Strasbourg, 17/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 17 April, the co-leader of the Democratic Society Congress and Turkish parliament member, Ahmet Türk, stressed the importance of support from the EU and European Parliament in the peace process that is under way between Turkey and the Kurds - a process about which he is optimistic. “We believe that the EU should follow the process closely to see the reasons and the parties that don't want to restore peace in the region”, he said at a European Parliament press conference. In the view of Hélène Flautre MEP (Greens, France), “the EU and the institutions must find every means to support the process. This must be done quickly. Not everyone is interested in the peace. It is important, including for European security, to bring our support”. Linking the process to the writing of a new constitution in Turkey, she said that the Parliament could contribute still more to the process through its experience of trying to reach consensus on political dialogue.
Despite the fact that the language has changed in Turkey and is more positive, “when one sees the European politicians who always see Kurdish politicians as a danger or potential danger, it does not help the process”, Türk regretted. In his view, if the EU had had a balanced role the process could have been started years ago. Alexandra Thein MEP (ALDE, Germany) underlined that, while the two parties have exchanged words, the EU ought to do the same. “Negotiations are made on an equal footing. We ought to be neutral”, she added, regretting that the EU is “not sufficiently aware” of the importance of the process.
In Türk's opinion, the EU should move closer to the Kurds. “The EU must attract the Kurdish movement and the Kurdish democratic forces to help them make steps towards peace”, he said, regretting the fact that the EU considers the Kurdish party as terrorists, “which does not help the current policy”. “The PKK has become an important political party, a partner in negotiations and dialogue. The time has come” to remove it from the EU's list of terrorist organisations, he replied to a question from EUROPE. In Thein's view, it is necessary to take action on the restrictions - particularly on the freedom of movement of certain people who are on the terrorist list, as this is “a heavy handicap in the peace process”. (CG/transl.fl)