Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/1999-10-06-Speech-3-020"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"1999-10-06"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:State of relations between Turkey and the EU2
dcterms:Language	"en"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.19991006.1.3-020"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:1999-10-06-Speech-3-0212
lpv:speaker	lp:Baroness Sarah Ludford2
lpv:spoken text	"As an MEP for London, I am glad to represent many Turks, Turkish Cypriots and Kurds. That leads me to insist that the chief obstacle to Turkey’s accession is not prejudice or discrimination. The EU is not a Christian club. Europe is culturally richer for having Muslim citizens and residents, and I welcome that. The chief obstacle to Turkey’s entry is its inability to meet the political criteria laid down at Copenhagen, especially regarding democracy, human rights and the rights of minorities, especially the Kurdish people. And it is patronising and insulting to treat Turkey differently from other candidates as if suggesting Turkey is second class and incapable of aspiring to European political standards. The main cancer in the Turkish system is the repression of the Kurdish people. This has distorted the Turkish State and justified its militarisation. Hundreds of thousands of people have died and millions have been evicted from their homes. The PKK has committed some atrocities but these have been far outweighed by those perpetrated by the Turkish army. There is insufficient response to the PKK’s ceasefire. Our mistake is to perceive Turkey more as a strategic military ally than as a political partner. We must intensify our relationship and contribute to constructive change, but must not say yet that Turkey is on track to join. That is why I cannot support my own Group’s Amendment 1."@en1
lpv:spokenAs	substitute; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-09-13--2002-01-14)3 unknown; Liberal Democrat Party (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs (1999-09-13--2002-01-14)3 member; ELDR (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with South-east Europe (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Delegation to the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee (1999-09-29--2002-01-14)3
lpv:unclassifiedMetadata	"Ludford (ELDR )."1

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