Brussels 2005 - Papers
Preface by Jon Rud, General Secretary
Preface to the papers from the Second International Conference on EU Turkey and the Kurds, in the EU Parliament, 19-21 September 2005.
[Click here for more information]Message by Bianca Jagger
Message by Bianca Jagger, Goodwill Ambassador of the Council of Europe.
[Click here for more information]Greeting from Shirin Ebadi
Shirin Ebadi was Patron of the Second International Conference. A shorter version was presented at the opening day of the conference.
[Click here for more information]Kariane Westrheim
Opening remarks by Chairwoman of the EUTCC, Kariane Westrheim
[Click here for more information]Hatip Dicle
60 years ago, Europe was one of the bloodiest areas of the world, struggling with ethnic, religious-sects and class conflicts. However, a great democratic advance began in Europe, starting from the second half of the 20th century, which transformed it into an attractive centre - symbolised by humanity and universal values.
[Click here for more information]Conny Fredriksson
It is, I think, very important that the situation in Turkey, especially in the Southeast, becomes stabilized now that EU-Turkey negotiations have started.
Mehmed Uzun
Everybody seems to be looking at the topic from their own perspective when it comes to the question of Turkey, the European Union and the Kurds. I would like to look at this topic in terms of dialogues and freedoms.
[Click here for more information]Ali Yigit
I would like to greet you all with warmth and hope that this conference will help facilitate democracy and peace. The Kurdish question, as well as being one of the oldest and most important issues for Turkey, has now become a question for the region and the international arena. It is both the reason and the result of many problems. It is an issue which needs an immediate solution.
[Click here for more information]Margaret Owen
As I prepare this paper on the Rights of Women in Turkey I am conscious that several EU members regard her as ineligible to start EU membership talks. They reject Turkey for a variety of reasons: the issue of the recognition of Cyprus; the different treatment of Croatia’s application; as well as Turkey’s poor record on upholding human rights to comply with international conventions, the ECHR, the Copenhagen Criteria and the various harmonization packages of law reform.
[Click here for more information]Ayhan Bilgen
It can be said that the reason Turkey is not taking any steps forward in the democratisation process is because there are organised groups who do not want Turkey to become a democratic country.
[Click here for more information]Richard McKane
I am an activist in English PEN writers in Prison Committee, rather than knowledgeable in politics or journalism.
[Click here for more information]Osman Baydemir
The past two days have seen an intense debate about the Turks and the Kurds, different communities with different views being brought together under the same roof from both Turkey and Europe. What brings us together is our belief in the tradition of democratic debate.
[Click here for more information]Tarik Ziya Ekinci
The refusal of Turkey’s bid for EU membership would halt the democratisation of the country. Such a refusal would reinstate denialist, oppressive and assimilationist policies and hence the Kurdish question would not be resolved. This is due to the internal dynamics of Turkey being disorganised, weak and ineffective. It has no talent for protecting and continuing the democratic values that it has gained.
[Click here for more information]Michael Gunter
Indeed, the way to solve the Kurdish problem in Turkey may prove to be through the Copenhagen Criteria, which mandate the stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and protection of minorities. There is no bargaining on these criteria.
[Click here for more information]Sehnaz Turan
The obligation of states to execute the judgments of the ECtHR is laid down under Article 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Article 1 of the Convention obliges all states to give full enjoyment of the rights and freedoms, as defined in the first section of the Convention, to everybody under their jurisdiction.