Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-02-27-Speech-3-134"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2002-02-27"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Democratic rights in Turkey, in particular the situation of HADEP2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20020227.8.3-134"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2002-02-27-Speech-3-1352
lpv:speaker	lp:Joost Lagendijk2
lpv:spokenAs	unknown; GroenLinks (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (2002-01-17--2004-07-19)3 chair; Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 member; G/EFA (2002-01-08--2004-07-19)3 member; Conference of Delegation Chairs (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3 substitute; ECON (2002-02-26--2004-07-19)3 member; Delegation for relations with the countries of south-east Europe (2002-02-07--2004-07-19)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, Commissioner, Mr President-in-Office of the Council, I can be brief about what has led us to this discussion: the charge of separatism against HADEP is undesirable and, mainly, unjustified. HADEP is a democratic party which is trying to defend the cause of the Kurds peacefully, and has done so in the past. It is therefore only right that the Council, the Commission and Parliament, too, should denounce this charge unequivocally. I can only hope, therefore, that the decision to re-examine this case next Friday in terms of the present constitution and the proposed constitutional changes, and not to proceed full steam ahead towards a ban, forms part of a more general change of direction regarding what, in my view, is the central issue under debate here, namely the question of how political, cultural and religious minorities in Turkey should be accorded a place in the political system. This is about fundamental human rights: the right to speak one’s own language, the right to use that language in the media and the right to be taught in that language. But more than anything, it is about the need for crucial political reforms. In this sense, the case against HADEP epitomises the choice which Turkey is facing: either the country opts for pluralism, democracy and freedom of expression, or these basic European principles remain subordinate to a dogmatic view of state security. However, let there be no misunderstanding about the fact that this criticism of Turkey and this support for HADEP are based on one crucial premise, namely that it is to be welcomed that Turkey is one of the EU’s candidate countries and that the European Union must do everything in its power to enable Turkey to acquire membership. Consequently, it is not my intention, by supporting HADEP and criticising the Turkish government and authorities, to keep Turkey outside the EU indefinitely, but rather to prepare Turkey for fully-fledged democratic membership of the European Union."@en1

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