MEMORANDA
TAKEN BEFORE THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
TURKEY
Letter from the Minister for Europe, Foreign
and Commonwealth Office, to the Chairman of the Committee
Thank you for your letter of 23 July to the
Foreign Secretary requesting further information from the Government
as to its views on the conclusions contained in the Committee's
recent report of its enquiry into UK/Turkey relations[1]
(our Command Paper 5529 addressed the Committee's recommendations).
In the Foreign Secretary's absence, I am replying as the Minister
responsible for Turkey.
Please find below the Government's point by
point response, as you requested.
(a) We conclude that Turkey's cultural
and religious traditions will make a positive contribution to
the diversity of the EU. Pursuing Turkey's candidature even-handedly
gives an important signal that the EU is not a closed Christian
club, but an open organisation which can embrace those parts of
the world within its geographical compass, both Christian and
Muslim, which are prepared to accept common political and economic
values, including respect for human rights (paragraph 11)[2].
The Government agrees and would oppose any suggestion
that Turkey's candidature is weakened by the fact that it does
not share the same cultural and religious background as existing
member states.
(n) We conclude that Turkey can only
make progress in its EU candidacy if it guarantees cultural rights
for all its citizens, irrespective of their origin (paragraph
45).
Cultural rights are covered by the Copenhagen
political criteria. The Government's responses to recommendations
(b); (c); (d); (e); (f) and (z) underlined the importance of meeting
the Copenhagen political criteria and the benefits this will bring
to all of Turkey's citizens.
(r) We conclude that by providing education
at least of the Turkish language through the medium of local languages,
and by enabling people to access state institutions through their
mother tongue, the Turkish authorities would be enhancing, not
diminishing, the cohesion of the Turkish state (paragraph 52).
The Government agrees with the Committee. The
cultural rights of the Kurdish minority are at the centre of a
vigorous public debate in Turkey; including, encouragingly, the
argument adduced by the committee. All these issues are under
discussion between Turkey and the EU, as part of the pre-accession
process.
(s) We conclude that Turkey is unlikely
to meet the Copenhagen political criteria regarding freedom of
expression and freedom of association until there is a fundamental
change in the way that the Turkish judiciary and law enforcement
authorities act and think (paragraph 56).
The Government agrees with the Committee's conclusion.
Constitutional and legislative reforms, impressive though they
are, need now to be translated into daily practice throughout
the country.
(v) We conclude that the military is
a factor in domestic politics which the Government and the EU
cannot afford to ignore (paragraph 63).
The Government considers it important to keep
in contact with all parts of Turkish society. The UK in fact has
extensive contacts with the Turkish military in the course of
NATO business and other co-operation proper to close allies. The
Government believes that such contacts can have some beneficial
effect on the role played domestically by the Turkish military,
including promoting wider support for, and deeper understanding
of, the reforms entailed in the EU accession process.
(x) We conclude that there is an awkward
tension between the EU's emphasis on democratic standards and
civilian control of the military, and the concern of Turkey's
NATO allies (many of which are also of course EU member states)
that Turkey should remain a western-orientated secular society
at all costs, even if this means disenfranchising those elements
in the Turkish population who support political Islamism, however
moderate (paragraph 66).
The Government believes that its efforts to
help Turkey comply with the Copenhagen criteria are the best way
to ensure that such tension does not arise.
(ee) We conclude that progress in negotiations
between Turkey and Greece aimed at resolving boundary disputes
in the Aegean would be good news not only for Turkey's EU candidacy
but also for the stability of the region as a whole (paragraph
85).
The Government agrees with the Committee's conclusion.
(ff) We conclude that it is almost inevitable
that Cyprus will be accepted as a member of the EU at the Copenhagen
European Council in December 2002, whether a settlement has been
reached or not. This is a political fact with which Turkey must
come to terms (paragraph 86).
The Government agrees with the Committee's conclusion
but continues to stress to all the parties involved that a just,
lasting and comprehensive settlement remains achievable within
the timeframe. As the Seville European Council concluded: "The
Helsinki conclusions are the basis of the European Union's position.
The European Union's preference continues to be for the accession
of a reunited island. The European Council fully supports the
efforts of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and calls
upon the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities
to intensify and expedite their talks in order to seize this unique
window of opportunity for a comprehensive settlement, consistent
with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, hopefully before
conclusion of the negotiations. The European Union would accommodate
the terms of such a comprehensive settlement in the Treaty of
Accession in line with the principles on which the European Union
is founded: as a Member State, Cyprus will need to speak with
a single voice and ensure proper application of European Union
law. The European Union would make a substantial financial contribution
in support of the development of the northern part of a reunited
island".
(ii) We conclude that because of its
geostrategic position, its military strength, its secular political
system, its Muslim population, and its utter commitment to fighting
terrorism, Turkey is an extremely valuable ally in the ongoing
war against terrorism (paragraph 94).
The Government agrees wholeheartedly with the
Committee's conclusion.
(jj) We conclude that it remains uncertain
whether Turkey would be prepared to support a US military intervention
in Iraq under current circumstances (paragraph 98).
The Government notes the Committee's conclusion.
(kk) We conclude that Turkey's strategic
role is fully compatible with its EU aspirations, but that, contrary
to what sometimes seems to be believed in Turkey, its strategic
importance does not significantly enhance Turkey's prospects of
EU accession (paragraph 103).
The Government believes that Turkey's candidature,
like others, must be dealt with on its merits and that the requirement
for opening negotiations is compliance with the Copenhagen political
criteria.
(ll) We conclude that whatever the reasons
for the Turkish Government's eventual agreement to ESDP, the role
of the British Government in negotiating the terms of this agreement
was crucial and we congratulate those responsible. We further
conclude that Turkish brinkmanship on ESDP should be borne in
mind in the context of other negotiations, such as those for a
settlement in Cyprus (paragraph 105).
The Government notes the Committee's conclusion.
(mm) We conclude that there is probably
only a limited extent to which Turkey can bring together Europe
and the Islamic world, but that it is well worth the effort of
it trying to do so (paragraph 109).
The Government notes the Committee's conclusion
and applauds Turkey's efforts to bring Europe and the Islamic
world together. The Government views Turkey as pivotal in its
region, a factor for stability and a repository of expertise.
(rr) We conclude that the United Kingdom,
as a committed but not uncritical member of the European Union,
is in a particularly good position not only to show understanding
for Turkey where it has concerns about the potential impact of
the EU accession process, but also to play an important part in
allaying these concerns, where this is possible (paragraph 115).
The Government agrees with the Committee's conclusion.
(xx) Turkey is a major regional power
and the only working secular democracy in its part of the Muslim
world. There are many potential barriers to Turkey's wish to join
the EU: human rights shortfalls, the role of the military, Cyprus,
and, even if all those bridges are crossed, the economy. The country
has some uncomfortable choices to make. Some Turks fear that meeting
the EU's criteria will require them to abandon long-held principles
on which the Turkish state is established. As is natural in a
democracy, Turkey may not always make the choices that outsiders
want it to make, and it may take longer than they would like to
make those choices. In our view, it would benefit the EU to have
Turkey as a member: it would expand its horizons, open up new
markets, and show its inclusiveness to the Muslim world. The EU
accession process will also bring advantages to Turkey: not only
prosperity and stability, but also human rights and civil liberties
(paragraph 129).
The Government believes there is much good sense
in the Committee's views. The Government welcomes Turkey's EU
candidature.
(yy) Turkey needs to take ownership
of the political and economic reforms required of it by the EU.
Human rights and economic reform are good for their own sake,
not just because they are required by the EU or the IMF, and there
are many in Turkish civil society, and a growing number in Government,
who see this. EU member states for their part need to bear in
mind the instability and animosity that will almost certainly
result if Turkey turns away from the EU. Turkey's accession in
the short term is unlikely, as all concerned know in their hearts.
What is crucial is that the door to accession should remain open
for as long as it takes. This will require much effort and goodwill
on both sides. The prize is great. We are convinced that the British
Government can play a crucial role in helping Turkey, and the
EU, to achieve that prize (paragraph 130).
The Government agrees that the door to accession
should remain open for as long as it takes and believes that the
Seville European Council conclusions showed the EU's determination
to encourage the reform process in Turkey: "The European
Council welcomes the reforms recently adopted in Turkey. It encourages
and fully supports the efforts made by Turkey to fulfil the priorities
defined in its Accession Partnership. The implementation of the
required political and economical reforms will bring forward Turkey's
prospects of accession in accordance with the same principles
and criteria as are applied to the other candidate countries.
New decisions could be taken in Copenhagen on the next stage of
Turkey's candidature in the light of developments in the situation
between the Seville and Copenhagen European Councils, on the basis
of the regular report to be submitted by the Commission in October
2002 and in accordance with the Helsinki and Laeken conclusions".
Rt Hon Peter Hain MP
Minister for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office.
29 July 2002
1 Sixth Report from the Foreign Affairs Committee,
Session 2001-02, Turkey, HC 606. Back
2
Paragraph numbers refer to recommendations of the Committee's
Sixth Report, HC (2001-02) 606. Back
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