Brussels, 13/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - Leyla Zana, who is out of prison after ten years behind bars for speaking in the Kurdish language at the Turkish parliament, said on Wednesday that she supported Turkey's membership of the EU. "The Kurds and Turks can live together in the Union with universal values", she said after being greeted by the president of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, and before meeting the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which met for the occasion with the sub-committee on human rights and the EP delegation to the joint EU-Turkey committee. "The existence of two brotherly people within the EU could contribute to world peace", she added. "The young, energetic, population of Turkey can contribute much to Europe", she felt. Ms Zana also spoke of the advantages that would be gained by a "supranational identity as a member of the EU". In her view, it is obvious that the "process begun with the EU has helped to bring about change at various levels".
In Turkey, she told MEPs, there may well be cases of torture here and there but "one can no longer speak of systematic torture. This gives me hope for the future. I can but note the great distance already covered". "But can one say that all are free to speak their own minds? This is not yet the case", she said, and implementation in practice of what is written on paper "takes time". The rights granted to the Kurds "are still insufficient" but it is "important to say that our existence is now acknowledged, after 80 years. Once something is recognised, one can but move forward".
The 1995 Sakharov Prizewinner warmly thanked MEPs for their support. "During these ten long years (of imprisonment), you have not left us alone, either myself or my companions. You have made a great effort for peace and democracy in Turkey, and that is why I wish to thank you". She was applauded at great length. On Thursday, Ms Leyla Zana will be speaking before the EP plenary session.