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Turkey: Human Rights

Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will draw to the attention of the Enlargement Commissioner, Mr Olli Rehn, and other relevant officials at the European Commission the report of Minority Rights Group International, A Quest for Equality: Minorities in Turkey; and whether they will urge the Government of Turkey to comply with the report's recommendations, to ensure that the principles of non-discrimination and minority protection are fully applied before the decision has to be made on Turkey's accession to the European Union. [HL1043]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The report of Minority Rights Group International was prepared with the financial support of the EU and presented to representatives of EU member states and the European Commission Delegation in Ankara on 10 December 2007. It is therefore unnecessary for the Government to draw this report to the attention of the European Commission.

We urge Turkey to pursue a comprehensive policy of reform on human rights, including signature and ratification of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the lifting of

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restrictions on the public use of minority languages and reform of laws restricting the property rights of minority communities. We will continue to monitor progress to ensure that there is full and consistent implementation of EU standards.

Turkey: Political Parties

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Government of Turkey's proposal to dissolve the Democratic Society Party and to disqualify its members for political life is compatible with its application to join the European Union; and what representations they are prepared to make on this matter. [HL999]

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): It is the chief prosecutor, not the Government, who has asked the Turkish Constitutional Court to consider the case for the Democratic Society Party (DTP) to be dissolved, on the grounds of supporting separatism and terrorist activity. The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has stated that he will not lift the immunity of individual DTP MPs, who will continue to serve in Parliament regardless of the outcome of the closure case (a ban on political activity does not preclude an individual from being elected to Parliament). We commend this decision, which recognises the political importance of including representatives of the Kurdish population in democratic processes.

Both the constitutional court and state prosecutors are independent of the Turkish Government and it is important that they remain so. We do not therefore intend to make representations to the Government of Turkey on this issue at the present time. We trust that the court will reach a fair and impartial judgment after full consideration of the evidence in this case.

As part of its preparation for accession to the EU, Turkey must pursue a comprehensive policy of reform, including fundamental rights and representation of minority groups in Turkey.

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