C H P E U R OPE AN U NI ON R E P R E S E N TA TI ON Brussels
Turkish News Folder CHP: "SOLUTION OF THE KURDISH QUESTION IN FULL ACCORDANCE WITH THE EU VALUES AND RULES." 12.08.2009 Milliyet Daily Onur Öymen, Vice-President : "CHP SUPPORTS A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION OF THE KURDISH QUESTION IN FULL ACCORDANCE WITH THE EU VALUES AND RULES." CHP PROPOSED SEVERAL PLANS IN THE PAST AND RECENTLY IN 2009. Excerpts:
PKK should recognize that there would be no political solution through violence and should stop terrorism unconditionally. If this does not happen, it would be the duty of Iraqi and American governments to eliminate terrorism from Northern Iraq according to international law. If this cannot be reached than the Turkish Government should do it in line with the authorization given by the Turkish Parliament.
It would correct to declare an amnesty with the end of terrorist activities of PKK. State may consider an amnesty in case all terrorist activities end permanently. It would not be correct to negotiate with terrorists and ask their indulgence to stop the terror. The operations of the security forces have to continue until the end of terrorism.
The public opinion and political parties have not been informed about the reasons of the optimism spread recently by the government. In the meantime terrorists continue to kill civilians and the members of the security forces practically everyday.
The views of CHP on ethic problems, terrorism and regional development have been mentioned in the new Party Program adopted at the end of the 2008. The program stipulates that the State should not discriminate the citizens according to their religion, sect or ethnicity. The ethnic origins of our citizens should be regarded as richness and their efforts to develop their language, culture and traditions should be supported. As regards to individual rights of our citizens of different ethnicity, the standards prevailing in the European Union and European countries should be fully taken into consideration. Obviously the basic elements of our nation state have to be preserved and discriminative ethnic considerations should not be introduced into our national educational system.
Democracy should be further deepened for the entire population irrespective of ethnic preferences. When democratic rights, freedoms and the independence of judiciary are
C H P EUROPEAN UNION REPRESENTATION Republican People's Party – Turkey
( Member of the Socialist International )
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undermined in all parts of the country, the proposal of democratization for just a single ethnic group would not be realistic.
The situation in South Eastern part of Turkey in the fields of education, health and infrastructure is very poor. Life expectancy is much behind the Western parts of Turkey. Unemployment is very high. Urgent measures should be taken for all these problems. The children of this region should be provided with education opportunities in the best schools of Turkey.
Our goal should be the integration of our society and not its disintegration. The basic values of our republic, supremacy of law, freedom of press and expression should be developed. Use of violence for political purposes should be condemned by all political parties as well as by all segments of our society.
The principles of the unity and integrity of the country, democracy, freedoms, human rights, equal rights should be respected and all citizens should be treated equally.
The government who talks about a new opening, should first and foremost propose a comprehensive project before seeking the support of political parties and public opinion.
CHP proposes solution package for the Kurdish issue Main Points _____________________________________________________________________ CHP re-emphasises its position on the Kurdish issue: European democracy and regional development - Freedom for the expression of ethnic identities - Citizenship as a non-ethnic constitutional concept - Mobilisation for the Southeastern Anatolian Project (GAP) with focus on the agriculture, energy, women rights and education. - Involvement of the civic society - Peaceful relations and co-operation with the neighbouring countries _____________________________________________________________________
CHP’s proposal;
The solution lies in changing the mentality of public institutions, including the judiciary and police.
The creation of equal opportunities in the region in all spheres including education, health and development. CHP President Deniz Baykal: “If we speak about education, there is a need to establish a system which guarantees that the doors of the state will be open to educated youth.
The third component concerns freedoms, culturel rights, TV stations, teaching Kurdish language. CHP President Deniz Baykal criticized state interference in broadcasting in Kurdish. Deniz Baykal: “special broadcasts can be made in the region within the regulations of RTÜK [Supreme Board of Radio and Television]. Affirmative action could be taken; tax facilities could be provided;
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Turkish News Folder
opportunities could be created to help everyone use his own ethnic identity. All of these should be done in an understanding of freedom. A citizen must have the freedom to live his own ethnic identity.
The fourth element is the direct measures of promotion of the region’s economic rehabilitation: infrastructure, SMEs, women entrepreneurship, vocational training, crossborder-trade, …
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