Nobel Peace Prize Winners, Writers and Prominent Human Rights Advocates Support the Third International Conference on EU, Turkey and the Kurds

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Bianca Jagger, Harold Pinter, Mehmed Uzun and Professor Noam Chomsky, lend their support to the Third International Conference on EU, Turkey and the Kurds, to be held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 16-17 October. The conference will provide a democratic platform for discussion on the critical role the EU should play in establishing the parameters of peaceful dialogue with all the stakeholders in the resolution of the Kurdish issue. It will also bring together non-governmental organisations, members of the European Parliament, Turkish, Kurdish and European politicians, academics and writers.

Coming just weeks after the release of a comprehensive report and resolution of the European Parliament and ahead of the release of the European Commission’s regular report amid their increasingly firm language in regardshuman and minority rights, the conference promises lively debate and discussion.

The conference’s findings will be published and presented to the European Commission and thus presents an opportunity for NGOs and individuals with regional expertise to highlight to decision makers the successes and
failures of the Turkish Government’s reforms.

About the EUTCC

In November 2004 the Rafto Foundation, Kurdish Human Rights Project and Medico International hosted the first conference on EU Turkey and the Kurds in the European Parliament. As an outcome of this historic event, these organisations and the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales established a standing Civic Commission, the EU-Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC). Due to the vibrancy of the dialogue of the 2004 conference, a second EUTCC conference was held in September 2005.

The EUTCC is in favour of Turkish EU membership because the EU route remains the greatest hope for securing a civilised, democratic and pluralist Turkey in which a negotiated political solution to the Kurdish question is realised, but only if progress towards membership is based on tangible improvements in the protection of human rights and freedoms and the tackling of the plight of the Kurds is firmly integrated into accession negotiations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Kariane Westrheim, Chair of the Board of Directors, EUTCC, Tel: +47 555 88 797 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jon Rud, Secretary General, EUTCC, Tel: +34.965846645 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Kerim Yildiz , Treasurer, EUTCC, Tel: +44 (0) 207 405 3835 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Hege Ekeland, Project Assistant, EUTCC, Tel: +47 93 22 17 36 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it