Versions1st Int. Conf. on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds [English, London, 2005]
2nd Int. Conf. on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds [English, London, 2006]
3rd Int. Conf. on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds [English, London, 2007]
4th Int. Conf. on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds [English, London, 2009]
5th Int. Conf. on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds [English, London, 2010]
FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EU, TURKEY AND THE KURDS
EDITOR’S NOTE
The fifth annual EU-Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) Conference was held on 28th and 29th January 2009 at the European Parliament in Brussels. The event was hosted by the founders of the EUTCC, namely, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (UK); the Kurdish Human Rights Project (UK); medico international (Germany); and the Rafto Foundation (Norway), and was supported by members of the European Parliament. The conference was dedicated to the memory of the writer and Nobel Prize laureate Harold Pinter, who died on 24th December 2008.
This publication sets out the speeches and papers of the 2009 Conference, including the Final Resolutions, in order to give an idea of the key issues discussed over the 2 days of the conference, although not all remarks by moderators have been included. A brief account of the background to the Conference can be found below; for a more comprehensive guide to the accession process and related recent developments in Turkey, the Background Paper that was given to Conference delegates is included in this publication (Appendix 1).
For the purposes of publication, the speeches reproduced here have been edited and in some cases abridged or transcribed from the simultaneous translations made at the conference on each day. Where given, the title of each speech has been included. Where speeches were submitted to the publisher as papers, author’s footnotes have been retained.
The opinions expressed in this work do not necessarily represent the views of the EUTCC.
Contents
List of Abbreviations / 11
Editor’s Note / 13
Introduction / 15
Patrons & Opening Remarks & Speeches / 23
Session 1: EU - Turkish Accession – International Perspectives / 39
1.1 The Review and Progress of EU Accession / 39
Speaker: Kerim Yıldız
1.2 EU Reform Process – and Future Prospects / 47
Speaker: Andrew Duff
1.3 The Turkish and Kurdish Perspective on EU Accesssion / 48
Speaker: Ahmet Türk
1.4 Socio-Economic Development: Prospects for Long-term Change through the EU Process / 54
Speakers: Osman Baydemir-Sarah Ludford
1.5 Turkey, EU & International Relations / 60
Speaker: Michael M. Gunter
1.6 The Role of Europe in Promoting Democratic Changes / 77
Speakers: Pasqualina Napoletano-Amed Dicle
Session 2: EU Turkish Accession, Human Rights and Rule of Law / 85
2.1 Turkey’s Compliance with International Human Rights Obligations / 85
Speaker: Ibrahim Bilmez
2.2 Role of Civil Society in Promoting Democratic Change / 87
Speakers: Emilio Molinari-Jonathan Fryer
2.3 Civil & Political Rights and the Implementation of the Copenhagen Criteria / 93
Speakers: Ozturk Turkdogan-Omer F. Gergerlioglu
2.4 The Role of Women in Building Democracy / 101
Speaker: Sara Aktas
2.5 Development of Cultural and Linguistic Rights / 105
Speakers: Frieda Brepoels-Eurig Wyn
2.6 Constitutional Reforms and the Impact on EU Accession / 110
Speaker: Cengiz Candar
Session 3: Ongoing Conflict: Different Perspectives / 115
3.1 The Effect of Cross-Border Operations in Neighbouring States / 115
Speakers: Susan Breau-Mark Muller
3.2 Prospects for a Democratic, Peaceful Solution to Kurdish Question / 120
Speakers: Adem Uzun-Dirk Rochtus
3.3 Is Turkey Ready for a Dialogue with Kurds? / 129
Speaker: Hans Branscheidt
3.4 Lessons from International Peace Processes / 131
Speaker: Brian Currin
Final Resolution from the Fifth International Conference on the EU, Turkey and the Kurds / 145
Appendix I: Background Paper / 155
About the Contributors / 195
What the EUTCC does
The EUTCC was established in November 2004 as the outcome of the first international conference on ‘The EU, Turkey and the Kurds’. The following organizations decided to establish the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC):
• Rafto Foundation (Norway)
• Kurdish Human Rights Project (United Kingdom)
• Medico International (Germany)
• Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales (United Kingdom).
The aim of the EUTCC is to contribute to the progress of Turkish membership of the EU. It does this by spreading accurate, objective information both in Turkey and Europe about the progress made by Turkey, but also about any shortcomings which may still persist. One of its most important tasks is to monitor Turkish compliance with the EU accession criteria. It organizes every year a conference in Brussels on “The EU, Turkey and the Kurds”. The EUTCC is registered in Belgium as a non-profit organization.
The EUTCC supports Turkey’s bid for EU accession, but only in so far as it meets the conditions for membership as defined by the accession agreements. In particular, it must demonstrate that it has achieved the condition of “stability of institutions guaranteeing
democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities” as required by the EU’s Copenhagen Criteria for membership...
FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EU, TURKEY AND THE KURDS
In Memory of Harold Pinter
Nobel Laureate and Playwright
And EUTCC Patron
European Parliament, Brussels
28th – 29th January, 2009
Layout & Design: Torske & Sterling Legal Marketing
www.torske.co.uk
Keywords: Turkey, minorities, Accession, EU
Printed in Great Britain
January 2010
978-1-905592-28-9
Published by the Kurdish Human Rights Project (London) & the Thorolf Rafto Foundation for Human Rights (Norway)
All rights reserved
