AVRUPA KONSEYİ PARLAMENTER MECLİSİ

SONBAHAR GENEL KURUL TOPLANTISI ESNASINDA

TÜRK DELEGASYONU ÜYELERİ TARAFINDAN YAPILAN KONUŞMALAR

(4-8 EKİM 2004, STRAZBURG)

PROGRESS REPORT OF THE BUREAU AND THE STANDING COMMITTEE

Mr MERCAN (Turkey). – I also commend the rapporteur, who has done an excellent job in briefing the Bureau in a very concise manner. In addition to what has already been said, which I fully agree with, I want to pick up on three points, which I think are important.

The first point is that the Council of Europe must be more forthcoming on fighting against terrorism. So far, we have discussed the issue in respect of urgent debate and sent condolences to the families of the victims and to the countries that have been attacked by the terrorists. As has been said several times in this Assembly, terrorism is becoming more global and is affecting everybody – even very small kids who are innocent in these circumstances. So, my proposal is to have an institution or body within the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly. It could be either an ad hoc committee or a committee or sub-committee that continuously deals with terrorism, which will probably bother us over coming years.

The second issue that I would like to raise with the Assembly is the situation in Iraq, which is getting even worse. Before agreement is reached in Iraq, I do not think that the world will be safer or economically better off because everyone’s life is affected by the situation there through either high oil prices or the impact of terrorism. So, I recommend that the Bureau investigate the situation and try to develop a model for Iraq – a safer, peaceful Iraq.

Lastly, I want to pick up on an issue that has long been on the Bureau’s agenda regarding the practical implementation of paragraph 6 of Resolution 1376 on Cyprus, adopted by our Assembly last April.

I want to register our position on the decision taken this morning, which will allow participation of Turkish Cypriot elected representatives in the work of our Assembly. The outcome reached by the Bureau this morning reflects, to an extent, the understanding of Resolution 1376, which was prepared in view of the circumstances in the aftermath of the referendum held on the island. As this outcome has been reached following long consultations with Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, it should be regarded as a step in the right direction. This is something I have learned in the Council of Europe – to reach compromises to achieve a peaceful solution.

I wish, therefore, to commend the efforts deployed by the Bureau, as well as the constructive contributions of our President, Mr Schieder, and the Secretary General, Mr Haller. I believe that the decision reached this morning contributes to the international efforts to put an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots. In last April’s referendum, they overwhelmingly proved their dedication to reunification on the basis of partnership and political participation. They still remain committed to a reunified Cyprus, as does Turkey. We would like to accept the decision taken by the Bureau despite the fact that it is not fully satisfactory.

FUNCTIONING OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

Mr Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU (Turkey). – I thank our co-rapporteurs for their excellent report. We support the Government of Serbia and Montenegro in its reforms and for meeting its international obligations and normalising its relations with its neighbours to promote lasting stability in the region. We are glad to note that Serbia and Montenegro has formally succeeded in creating the institutions of the state union. Nevertheless, as the report states, the state union of Serbia and Montenegro in its present form is not living up to expectations. I share the assessment that the main reason for that lies in the failure of both Serbia and Montenegro to amend their respective constitutions and make them compatible with the Constitutional Charter. Therefore, the drafting and adoption of new Serbian and Montenegrin Constitutions in compliance with Council of Europe standards is of great importance.

I commend the determination shown by the Serbian institutions to prevent the possible derailment of the reform process following the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in March 2003. I also welcome the successful organisation of presidential elections in June, which was possible because of legislative amendments made earlier this year.

It is promising that the national council for co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia has been reconstituted. Crimes against humanity should not go unpunished and all perpetrators of such crimes should be brought to justice as soon as possible. Serbia and Montenegro should intensify co-operation with the ICTY. That is imperative if it is to comply with obligations undertaken on becoming a member of the Council of Europe. That will also facilitate the integration of Serbia and Montenegro into European structures, and will strengthen peace and stability in the Balkan region as a whole.

Similarly, normalisation of relations with neighbouring countries will create an atmosphere of confidence that will be conducive to further co-operation in the region. In that sense I note with appreciation that President Marović has had the courage to apologise for all the misdeeds and calamities during the recent tragic events.

The situation in Kosovo and the sense of insecurity among remaining members of the Serbian and other non-Albanian communities, particularly following the eruption of ethnic violence in March, is also negatively affecting matters in Serbia. We strongly deplore the incidents of serious violence in Kosovo in March. We invite all communities in Kosovo to avoid further escalation of trouble and to refrain from activities that might hamper reconciliation and the promotion of tolerance among ethnic communities.

The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is an important component of that strategy. The authorities in Serbia and Montenegro should maintain and reinforce dialogue with the provisional institutions of self-governing Kosovo and help to dismantle the parallel structures of government in the Mitrovica area. Leaders of the Albanian population in Kosovo and those in the international community should create sustainable and secure conditions for the return of Serbs and other non-Albanians to Kosovo, and ensure their full participation in the political process. The creation of a climate of confidence is imperative if we are to see a self-sustainable peace in Kosovo and Sandjak.

I want to touch on an issue faced mainly by Turkish citizens who cross the Serbia and Montenegro borders. Turkish citizens, as well as those from other countries, encounter unbearable difficulties while crossing the border. Their financial assets and valuables are confiscated by Serbian authorities without any reason. What is most worrying is that their voice has so far been unheard and their problems unresolved. Unfortunately, they cannot find a remedy. Apart from that, there are complaints that they have to pay three times more than others at the border gates, and are still not given a proper explanation for having to do so. We do not want such difficulties in our family of nations whose states share the same values and principles as members of the Council of Europe.

FUNCTIONING OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN AZERBAIJAN

Mr Mevlüt ÇAVUŞOĞLU (Turkey). – Dear colleagues, as the report points out, the domestic reforms that are under way in Azerbaijan are quite impressive. The Azerbaijani authorities made an outstanding effort and achieved considerable progress as regards the fulfilment of Azerbaijan’s obligations and commitments. Those efforts continue.

I want to draw attention especially to the four presidential pardon decrees, which show the political will of the Azerbaijani authorities fully to adopt and implement Council of Europe norms and values. The reforms that are being implemented show clearly the direction that Azerbaijan wants to take. We believe that democratic and pro-European political will would gain additional importance in the South Caucasus if three regional states could resolve the existing conflicts, which hamper sustainable stability and further democratisation in the region.

Nagorno-Karabakh is one of those conflicts, and I want to take this opportunity to say a few words about it because, in Resolution 1358, the Assembly called on the Bureau to consider how co-operation could be restored and progress made on the issue. The esteemed members of this Assembly should not forget that for years no progress has been achieved on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

One member of the Council of Europe is still occupying almost a fifth of the territory of another member country. This issue was on our agenda when Azerbaijan and Armenia became members of the Council of Europe. No progress has yet been made. The international community should assume a more active involvement in and responsibility for an issue that may be considered the most serious problem in respect of achieving peace and stability in the South Caucasus.

We must also be more demanding on the fulfilment of commitments. This Assembly should also devise ways and means to put pressure on Armenia to abide by international law and principles, including respect for the territorial integrity of its neighbours.

Yesterday, I was talking to the rapporteur, Mr Gross, and he asked me whether he was getting soft in his report. I said, “No, you are still tough.” Mr Gross and the co-rapporteur are seeing the facts – Azerbaijan’s efforts to achieve democracy and European standards. We must continue dialogue with Azerbaijan and support it in achieving those standards and values.

TERRORISM

Mr Mevlűt ÇAVUŞOĞLU (Turkey). – First of all, I would like to thank the Bureau of the Assembly for including this item in our agenda today.

Refraining from repeating the valuable comments of previous distinguished speakers, I should like to underline the point that the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly should concentrate their direct role in counter-terrorism on the areas in which this Organisation has the capacity to make positive contributions.  We should project a clear and principled message, underscoring the unacceptability of terrorism, highlighting the Organisation’s role in addressing and preventing it, and ensuring that the fight against terrorism does not obscure the core values of the Council of Europe.

The protection of human rights is conceived as an essential concern.  Terrorism often thrives where human rights are violated, which adds to the need to strengthen action to combat violations of human rights.  Terrorism itself should also be understood as an assault on basic rights.  Terrorism is not a single phenomenon, but must be understood in the light of the context from which terrorist activities arise.  It is not a problem that primarily springs from any single ethnic or religious group.  Rather, terror has been used as a tactic in almost every corner of the world, making no distinctions as to the wealth, gender or age of its victims, who are largely civilians.  To be sure, we have seen in our time terrorism being used as a strategy.

In order to render international efforts to counter terrorism effective, co-operation between nations and international organisations must be made more systematic and norm-setting.  Otherwise we cannot confront this global threat.  Specifically, our Assembly should not hide from the Committee of Ministers its disappointment at the failure to elaborate a comprehensive convention in the fight against terrorism.  Today, we should urge the Secretary General and the Committee of Ministers to take immediate steps to underline the depth of shared international commitment to an effective,         sustained and multilateral response to the problem of terrorism.  Otherwise, we will continue to make intellectual speeches in further urgent debates following other terrorist acts such as those we have recently witnessed in Beslan.  Thank you.

OECD AND THE WORLD ECONOMY

Mr ATEŞ (Turkey). – Mr Deputy Secretary General, ladies and gentlemen and dear colleagues from Japan, Canada, Korea and Mexico, I have only ten minutes at my disposal, as our president just mentioned, so let me be very brief in introducing the report on “The OECD and the world economy”, for which I have had the honour of serving as your rapporteur. I say that it is an honour because you have all been very helpful to me, and I thank you all, including my colleagues on the committee and on the non-European parliamentary delegations here today, for your support and wisdom.

The report is rather optimistic. We do have healthy economic growth in most OECD countries, and in many countries that are not OECD members, such as the United States, China, south-east Asia and several countries in central and eastern Europe, including Russia and my own country, Turkey.

The report also points to areas where growth could be more robust such as in a few of the bigger economies in the economic and monetary union. Here more must be done to make the economies more efficient and more in line with the expectations raised in the European Union’s so-called “Lisbon agenda”. The Lisbon agenda, as you will remember, promised that the EU region would be the most competitive in the world by 2010. Some EMU countries are now doing well, but unfortunately we have to work harder to make sure that every country gets on to the fast track.

Differences in growth between different OECD regions are not just a matter of competition. They also risk leading to major trade imbalances and currency tensions. Calls for protectionism can also become a problem. The OECD does an enormous amount of work to try to ensure that such gaps do not occur and that good growth is maintained. It needs all our support.

The report also mentions the danger to the world economy from high oil prices, which are currently around $50 a barrel, and perhaps have gone higher today. We know that the main reason for this is the inability of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries or others to produce more. Insufficient refining capacity is another reason. Terrorism and attacks on oil installations in Iraq and elsewhere is also a major problem for oil supplies. Even the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, which our Mexican colleagues can tell us more about, are a problem. There is also the rapidly increasing demand for oil and gas from China and other rising economies and in our own countries.

It is in this context that the report welcomes the OECD’s work on sustainable development, and we are happy to note that this work will now continue.

Two days ago, we had a very stimulating debate on the Doha development agenda with our colleague, Mr Sasi, as the rapporteur. The report stresses the importance of concluding Doha successfully to ensure that the world economy can keep developing. Our report supports Mr Sasi’s recommendations.

Other chapters in our report take up the OECD’s work. We are happy that the new principles on corporate governance have now been agreed by OECD member countries. We urge all countries to make sure that they are heeded.

The report also mentions the need to implement the Kyoto protocol on climate change and recognises the importance of the OECD’s environmental strategy. However, we also say that we must already prepare for a post-Kyoto process. It would seem that Kyoto is not enough. Even so, I was heartened last week when I learned that the Russian Duma is now giving its blessing to the Russian ratification of Kyoto. I hope that all OECD and Council of Europe member states will be inspired by that example and will fully implement the Kyoto protocol. Of course, that also includes the United States

The report pays considerable attention to globalisation. Yes, we welcome globalisation. It is doing a lot of good in many parts of the world, but it leaves many countries and regions behind. It is creating income gaps, nationally and internationally, that are becoming more and more of a strain on world cohesion and stability. We count on the OECD to find ways by which globalisation, in the words of the draft resolution, “can benefit more countries and world citizens, in the interest of international peace, stability and solidarity”.

Finally, I wish to say a word about OECD enlargement. The enlarged Assembly’s constant line has been that the OECD has a worldwide mission and message – namely, how to promote sustainable economic growth and, at the same time, preserve social cohesion and an intact environment. A larger membership than the present one should have a say in that message. We realise the difficulties for the OECD in enlarging quickly, but the direction is clear and we should support it.

I hope that I have given a fair summary of the report before you and that, at the end of this sitting, we shall be able to adopt it unanimously.

I thank you for your attention.

CHECHNYA

Mr Sűleyman GŰNDŰZ (Turkey). – Chechnya has always been on the agenda of our committees and our Assembly.  Despite the fact that the Assembly has debated the issue on several agenda items, it is of great concern that the problem still exists, that no tangible result has been attained and that no political will has been displayed.  I would like to thank our rapporteurs for handling the issue from different perspectives and giving important data for our debate today.  I also want to express my views on the Chechnya problem and particularly dwell on “The humanitarian situation of the Chechen displaced population”.

The human rights situation in Chechnya and the prevailing tension are of great concern.  We still witness serious human rights violations in Chechnya.  There is still the problem of displaced persons, arbitrary arrests and violence against the Chechen population.  Information that the displaced Chechen population is forced to return is something that we do not want to hear in twenty-first century Europe.  The atmosphere seems quite dark for both Chechnya and different places in the Russian Federation.  The Chechens want an end to their long-lasting pain, ask for compensation for their lost years, want back their cities and want to live in security.  For how much longer can the worry and rightful demand of the Chechen people be neglected?

I do believe that, in order to strengthen democracy and the rule of law and to provide respect for human rights, the Russian Federation should be in close and direct co-operation with international organisations.  I follow the Chechen displaced situation with the utmost concern.  It is true that the Russian Federation is taking the necessary measures and that they are even encouraging.  However, in the general sense, I think that the measures with regard to the human rights and living conditions of the displaced population fall short of expectations.  Local and international assistance is also unsatisfactory.  I believe that co-operation with international humanitarian organisations should be intensified.

The information that the Chechen internally displaced persons in several places in the Russian Federation, particularly in Ingushetia, face undue pressure to return home is worrying.  The return of the displaced persons could only be done on a voluntary basis.  The rightful concern of the Chechen displaced population with regard to returns should be understood when security, infrastructure and living conditions are taken into consideration.

I take this opportunity to condemn the school attack in Beslan.  We in Turkey know very well what terrorism is and how destructive it can be.  Terror cannot be justified by any means.  We are for effective international co-operation in combating terrorism.  The rights of the innocent should not be violated while combating terrorism.

As an organisation representing the most advanced standards in democracy, the Council of Europe should not be indifferent to human rights and fundamental freedoms.  I believe that the Council of Europe could be more active in normalising the situation and particularly in eliminating the hardship that the Chechen displaced population face.  I also think that the Council of Europe Development Bank could make important contributions to improve the conditions of the Chechen displaced population.  The fact that the Russian Federation is not a member of the partial agreement of the Development Bank prevents the direct involvement of the bank.  I also share with Rapporteur Iwinski the view that the position of the Chechen displaced population should be closely followed by the ECHR and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.  Public opinion in Europe and NGOs should be encouraged to take an active part in improving the living conditions of the Chechen displaced population.  Similarly, I believe that the creation of a strong civil society in Chechnya will help to achieve a speedy solution to the problems.

Political, economic and social solutions in Chechnya will lead to a lasting political solution in the Caucasus.  Only a lasting solution would pave the way for the elimination of radical elements in the region.  Thank you.

Educatıon in Europe

Mr GÜLÇIÇEK (Turkey) thanked the rapporteur for bringing the subject to the Assembly. They were all aware of the problems of xenophobiaand violence. Education had a role in combating such problems.

It was of the utmost importance that the Council of Europe focussed on constitutional issues in general. Diversity could give rise to problems, but international exchanges could act as a counterweight. Formal education in itself was not enough, as there needed to be full discussion of the issues in civil society.

Those at the margin of society needed to be fully integrated, so it was important to realise that immigrants should be taught in their mother tongue in schools. Research indicated that the process led to higher academic achievement. It was clear that the Council of Europe could make a special contribution because of its ability to co-operate with other international institutions. Finally, he wished to associate himself entirely with the themes identified in the report.