Brussels 2005 - Papers
PrefaceThe EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) is pleased to present the main papers and lectures presented at its Second International Conference on EU, Turkey and the Kurds. This conference was held in the buildings of the European Parliament in Brussels on 19-20 September, 2005. It brought together members of the European Parliament, other politicians, human rights defenders, lawyers, writers and academics, altogether about 200 delegates. The EUTCC was established in 2005, following the First International Conference on EU, Turkey and the Kurds, also held in the European Parliament in Brussels, in November 2004. The aim of the EUTCC is to promote the accession of Turkey as a member of the EU, and to help guarantee respect for human rights, including minority rights. The EUTCC is monitoring the performance of the EU as well as of Turkey, in securing compliance with the accession criteria. The conference in 2005 pointed out that a resolution of the Kurdish question was essential in order to achieve full compliance with the Copenhagen criteria. The EUTCC believes that the establishment of a stable, democratic and peaceful Turkey can never be achieved without a just and lasting solution of this longstanding conflict. Important political reforms are necessary to replace an outdated Turkish, ethnic nationalism, which is at the root of the conflict and the endemic instability of the Turkish society. Although various speakers pointed out important shortcomings, the achievements of the Turkish Government’s reform programme were also acknowledged. In general, there was an atmosphere of optimism in the air, partly a result of Prime Minister Erdogan’s public acknowledgement of the “Kurdish issues” and his promises of democratic reforms to solve this issue. Many were hoping that with these promises, and the opening of accession negotiations expected to be declared on 3 October, substantive reforms would follow. However, his speech proved to be just hollow words. They were not followed by any concrete action, not even an outline of a plan. As a result, frustrations and anger has increased and has led to open conflict and demonstrations, such as in Diyarbakir, which led to violent clashes with Turkish security forces. Supported by Erdogan’s harsh statements, the security forces showed no mercy in slaughtering innocent bystanders and even children. Today, the EUTCC regrets to see that the optimism of October 2005 has been replaced by disappointment at broken promises and unfulfilled expectations. The EU itself is talking about a “reform pause”. Some of the legal reforms introduced since October 2005 have in fact been steps backward (e.g. the new Penal Code), and the lack of practical implementation of legislative reforms has become even more obvious for everyone to see. At the same time, an increasing conflict between the military and other (super-) nationalistic elements in the Turkish establishment and the Government, accused of having an anti-secular agenda, has become more pronounced. The lack of progress may be due to various circumstances: Whatever the reason, the fact is unfortunately that the lack of reform, makes it more difficult to envisage in the near future a solution of Turkey’s problems and genuine progress towards fulfilling the accession criteria. In 1998 the EU pointed out that “a civil and non-military solution must be found .., since many of the violations of civil and political rights … are connected … with this issue” [the Kurdish issue]. The EUTCC believes this is even more important and true today. The EU must insist, in unambiguous terms, on compliance with the Copenhagen criteria, and must itself contribute to a dialogue between the Kurds and the Turkish Government as the only realistic way to achieve lasting peace and a fair solution of the Kurdish issue.
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