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EU PARLIAMENT SHOWS FULL SUPPORT FOR KURDISH SOLUTION
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/eu-parliament-shows-full-support-for-kurdish-solution.aspx?pageID=238&nID=40638&NewsCatID=351
European Commissioner Stefan Fule. AA Photo Members of the European
Union Parliament expressed full support for the solution of the
Kurdish problem, highlighting both its regional importance and the
vitality for the Turkey's accession process in a plenary session.
The session also focused on finding a peaceful solution to the
problem, and the majority of the parliamentary members took turns
voicing support for the process, underlining the burden that falls
on both sides of the problem.
European Commissioner Stefan Fule said at the "Dialogue for peaceful
solution to the Kurdish problem" in Strasbourg that "the successful
completion of peace talks will speed up Turkey's EU membership
negotiations."
"We underlined that finding a solution to the Kurdish issue requires
the widest contribution," he said. "The discussions are of historic
importance, and constitute a great window of opportunity for ending
terrorism."
The Kurdish community was also called on to distance itself from the
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and to denounce all violence for a
better chance at peace.
EU Presidency Minister Lucinda Creighton's assured EU's stance against
"all forms of terrorism."
"The EU condemns all forms of terrorism and works closely with Turkey
against it," Creighton said.
Members of the Parliament also encouraged Turkey and Kurdish
communities to not "distract" themselves from peace, despite opposing
attempts from factions that do not want peace to come.
The killing of three Kurdish women on Jan. 9 in Paris was brought up
by countless members, with the majority of them labeling the acts as
an attempt to derail talks.
Creighton said obstacles remained, including sides that oppose peace,
but both sides "should not allow" such acts to distract the process.
The role of the solution process in Turkey's accession plans was
also touched upon during the session, with Fule expressing a strong
relation between the two ambitions.
Few parliamentary members showed discontent in including the issue
of Turkey's accession in the debate, with members citing Turkey's
outspoken disappointment of recent European reports on the development
of the country.
The session closed with Creighton's speech that focused on the need
to achieve "a much-needed break through."
"Settling the conflicts in our neighborhood is not just in our
interest, but in Turkey's as well," Creighton said. "It is important
that all EU institutions and all members' states will be watching
the progress very closely."
Both parties were called on to contribute to the process, with Turkey's
recent political and judicial reports garnering positivity among some
the members while speakers remained skeptical on the government's
recent human rights track.
The recent arrest of journalists and arrests of politicians for
speaking Kurdish during campaigns were cited by various members.
Turkish government was called to contribute toward "a sustainable
ongoing dialogue with Kurdish representatives" by overcoming human
rights problems that have surfaced in the country in the last couple
of years.
The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) welcomed such support from 42 EU
parliamentary deputies who spoke at the session, Nazmi Gur, a party
official told the Daily News on the phone.
We won't block the process: BDP co-chair
After the session, BDP co-chair Selahattin DemirtaÅ~_ held a press
meeting where he reiterated that his party was ready to contribute
to the process by any means necessary. "We won't be the side who
blocks and delays the process," said DemirtaÅ~_, while urging the
government to allocate more frequent visits to Imrali island, where
the PKK leader is jailed, in order to facilitate talks.
DemirtaÅ~_ also called on the government to hasten investigations into
the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris on Jan. 9, including
Sakine Cansız one of the co-founders of the PKK. He emphasized
that the uncertainty surrounding the case was slowing down the peace
process.
Meanwhile Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it would be
the Ministry of Justice who decides who will travel to Ä°mrali island,
in comments made earlier to earlier today in response to a statement
from DemirtaÅ~_ regarding the delegation expected to visit imprisoned
PKK leader Ocalan.
"We don't have time for those who want to cast a shadow on the
resolution process," Erdogan said in Ankara after returning from
Slovakia, the last stop of his bilateral visits to three Central
European countries.
February/06/2013
From: A. Papazian
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/eu-parliament-shows-full-support-for-kurdish-solution.aspx?pageID=238&nID=40638&NewsCatID=351
European Commissioner Stefan Fule. AA Photo Members of the European
Union Parliament expressed full support for the solution of the
Kurdish problem, highlighting both its regional importance and the
vitality for the Turkey's accession process in a plenary session.
The session also focused on finding a peaceful solution to the
problem, and the majority of the parliamentary members took turns
voicing support for the process, underlining the burden that falls
on both sides of the problem.
European Commissioner Stefan Fule said at the "Dialogue for peaceful
solution to the Kurdish problem" in Strasbourg that "the successful
completion of peace talks will speed up Turkey's EU membership
negotiations."
"We underlined that finding a solution to the Kurdish issue requires
the widest contribution," he said. "The discussions are of historic
importance, and constitute a great window of opportunity for ending
terrorism."
The Kurdish community was also called on to distance itself from the
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and to denounce all violence for a
better chance at peace.
EU Presidency Minister Lucinda Creighton's assured EU's stance against
"all forms of terrorism."
"The EU condemns all forms of terrorism and works closely with Turkey
against it," Creighton said.
Members of the Parliament also encouraged Turkey and Kurdish
communities to not "distract" themselves from peace, despite opposing
attempts from factions that do not want peace to come.
The killing of three Kurdish women on Jan. 9 in Paris was brought up
by countless members, with the majority of them labeling the acts as
an attempt to derail talks.
Creighton said obstacles remained, including sides that oppose peace,
but both sides "should not allow" such acts to distract the process.
The role of the solution process in Turkey's accession plans was
also touched upon during the session, with Fule expressing a strong
relation between the two ambitions.
Few parliamentary members showed discontent in including the issue
of Turkey's accession in the debate, with members citing Turkey's
outspoken disappointment of recent European reports on the development
of the country.
The session closed with Creighton's speech that focused on the need
to achieve "a much-needed break through."
"Settling the conflicts in our neighborhood is not just in our
interest, but in Turkey's as well," Creighton said. "It is important
that all EU institutions and all members' states will be watching
the progress very closely."
Both parties were called on to contribute to the process, with Turkey's
recent political and judicial reports garnering positivity among some
the members while speakers remained skeptical on the government's
recent human rights track.
The recent arrest of journalists and arrests of politicians for
speaking Kurdish during campaigns were cited by various members.
Turkish government was called to contribute toward "a sustainable
ongoing dialogue with Kurdish representatives" by overcoming human
rights problems that have surfaced in the country in the last couple
of years.
The Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) welcomed such support from 42 EU
parliamentary deputies who spoke at the session, Nazmi Gur, a party
official told the Daily News on the phone.
We won't block the process: BDP co-chair
After the session, BDP co-chair Selahattin DemirtaÅ~_ held a press
meeting where he reiterated that his party was ready to contribute
to the process by any means necessary. "We won't be the side who
blocks and delays the process," said DemirtaÅ~_, while urging the
government to allocate more frequent visits to Imrali island, where
the PKK leader is jailed, in order to facilitate talks.
DemirtaÅ~_ also called on the government to hasten investigations into
the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris on Jan. 9, including
Sakine Cansız one of the co-founders of the PKK. He emphasized
that the uncertainty surrounding the case was slowing down the peace
process.
Meanwhile Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said it would be
the Ministry of Justice who decides who will travel to Ä°mrali island,
in comments made earlier to earlier today in response to a statement
from DemirtaÅ~_ regarding the delegation expected to visit imprisoned
PKK leader Ocalan.
"We don't have time for those who want to cast a shadow on the
resolution process," Erdogan said in Ankara after returning from
Slovakia, the last stop of his bilateral visits to three Central
European countries.
February/06/2013
From: A. Papazian