News

Brussels, July 06 2020
Mr. Josep Borrell
HR/VP of the European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200 / Wetstraat 200
1040 Brussels, Belgium

Object: A call for immediate action to stop Turkey’s attacks against peace and democracy, in Kurdistan and everywhere

Mr Borrell,

We are writing to draw your attention to the repression of democratic political opposition in Turkey, especially the detention of MPs and Mayors from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP); the Turkish invasion bombardments in Northern Iraq and Northern Syria in particular the regions inhabited by Kurds.
Over the last five years, President Erdoğan’s ruling AKP has built an extremely authoritarian political system with the help of its ultranationalist allies and under conditions of emergency rule. In this process, over 90,000 people have been arrested with ‘terrorism’-related charges, including party
leaders, members of parliament, elected Kurdish mayors, thousands of other HDP party members, journalists, academics, lawyers, civil society representatives, human rights activists, and many more.
The government has typically labelled anybody critical of its policies, particularly its Kurdish policy, as a terrorist or a traitor, and an enemy of the state. The “Turkish-type presidential system” has totally undermined the principle of separation of powers and an independent judiciary.
The Turkish Government’s unlawful attacks are not simply directed against parliamentary democracy. They have also been unlawfully removing HDP co-mayors in Kurdish provinces, and replacing them with appointed governor-trustees.” Since the local elections held on 31 March 2019, the government has unlawfully seized 46 HDP-run municipalities out of 65. The European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) released its opinion no.979/2019 on 18 June 2020 and mentioned that it is incompatible with basic principles of democracy, the rule of law and foreseeability of the law.
We would also like to express our serious concerns about the continued shocking air strikes of the Turkish army in the regions of Sinjar and the UNHCR Makhmour Camp as well as other parts in South Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region of Iraq ), which commenced on 14 June, and drone attack in Koban (Kurdish Region of Syria) on 23 of June 2020. In both attacks, many civilians lost their lives or seriously injured.
Since 17 June 2020, the Turkish military commenced moving ground forces into the Iraqi Kurdistan region, supported by drones and helicopters that hit more than 150 targets. This Turkish military action is destabilizing the region, exacerbating humanitarian suffering, and providing a fertile ground for the resurgence of terrorist groups, which will especially undermine progress made against ISIS. Furthermore, the continued air strikes could lead to the displacement of more people and force them to be asylum seekers in different parts of neighbouring countries or Europe.

Turkey is a member of NATO, a member of the Council of Europe, and a candidate country in the process of accession to the EU. The Commission should not tolerate these unacceptable actions against all democratic norms of national and international law. We ask you to take action against Erdogan’s autocratic regime.
The EU faces also belligerent behaviour from Turkey in the Mediterranean Sea, going as far as the risk of confrontation with European ships belonging to the French Navy.
We cannot remain passive in the face of so much aggressiveness, including towards the EU Itself.
We would like to request that the Commission take immediate and concrete steps, as economic and targeted sanctions, to help end this unlawful repression and attacks, as well as attacks against international law.

Sincerely,

ALFONSI Francois (Greens/EFA); ANDROULAKIS Nikos (S&D); ARVANITIS Konstantinos (GUE/NGL); AUKEN Margrete (Greens/EFA); BARRENA Pernando (GUE/NGL); BELLAMY Francois-Xavier (EPP); BENIFEI Brando (S&D); BIEDROŃ Robert (S&D); BILBAO BARANDICA Izaskun (Renew); BITEAU Benoit (Greens/EFA); BJÖRK Malin (GUE/NGL); BOMPARD Manuel (GUE/NGL); BOURGEOIS Geert (ECR); BUSCHMANN Martin (NI); CAREME Damien (Greens/EFA); CASTALDO Fabio Massimo (NI); CHAIBI Leila (GUE/NGL); CHRISTOFOROU Lefteris (EPP); COMIN I OLIVERES Antoni (NI); CORMAND David (Greens/EFA); CORRAO Ignazio (NI); D’AMATO Rosa (NI); DELBOS-CORFIELD Gwendoline (Greens/EFA); DELLI Karima (Greens/EFA); DONATH Anna (Renew); DURAND Pascal (Renew); FAJON Tanja (S&D); FOURLAS Loucas (EPP); GEORGOULIS Alexis (GUE/NGL); GRUFFAT Claude (Greens/EFA); GUSMÃO José (GUE/NGL); GUTELAND Jytte (S&D); HEIDE Hannes (S&D); INCIR Evin (S&D); JADOT Yannick (Greens/EFA); KAILI Eva (S&D); KANKO Assita (ECR); KARLSBRO Karin (Renew); KONEČNÁ Kateřina (GUE/NGL); KOUNTOURA Elena (GUE/NGL); KUHNKE Alice (Greens/EFA); LOISEAU Nathalie (Renew); MAJORINO Pierfrancesco (S&D); MATIAS Marisa (GUE/NGL); MAVRIDES Costas (S&D); PAPADAKIS Demetris (S&D); PAPADIMOULIS Dimitrios (GUE/NGL); PELLETIER Anne-Sophie (GUE/NGL); PETER-HANSEN Kira (Greens/EFA); PISAPIA Giuliano (S&D); PONSATI Clara (NI); PUIGDEMONT Carles (NI); REGNER Evelyn (S&D); RIBA I GINER Diana (Greens/EFA); RIVASI Michèle (Greens/EFA); ROOSE Caroline (Greens/EFA); SANTOS Isabel (S&D); SATOURI Mounir (Greens/EFA); SCHIEDER Andreas (S&D); SIDL Guenther (S&D); SMERIGLIO Massimiliano (S&D); TOUSSAINT Marie (Greens/EFA); VAN OVERTVELDT Johan (ECR); VANA Monika (Greens/EFA); VILLANUEVA RUIZ Idoia (GUE/NGL); VILLUMSEN Nikolaj (GUE/NGL); YENBOU Salima (Greens/EFA); ACHAROPOULOU Chrysoula (Renew); ŽDANOKA Tatjana (Greens/EFA).

Members of the European Parliament

It is with sadness we received the message that our good dear friend and true advocate for the rights of the Kurdish people, the Norwegian lawyer and human rights activist Jon Rud, has passed away. Jon Rud died in Valencia, Spain at the age of 83. He leaves behind his beloved Irish wife Valerie, she also heavily involved in Kurdish issues. Jon Rud’s wish was to be buried in Ireland – a country he learned to love through his wife.

In 2004, Jon Rud became one of the first board members of the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC). His open mind, creativity and strategic approach to the Kurdish question made him highly respected by the initial founding organizations; Kurdish Human Rights Project (UK), Medico International (Germany), Bar Human Rights Committee of England & Wales (UK) and the Rafto Foundation (Norway). Jon Rud continued to serve as EUTCC’s Secretary General until he had to resign in 2008 due to other human rights missions.

Jon Rud’s many initiatives and activities towards the Kurds made him fearful by the Turkish authorities who in 2008 expelled him from the country for the second time – this time for life. Turkish authorities suspected the Norwegian lawyer for helping lawyers defending the Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan. However, the decision did not stop Jon Rud rather he stepped up his commitment to the Kurdish people’s political and cultural rights – a mission he worked tireless for until his death.

The EUTCC sends deep-felt condolences to Jon Rud’s family and in particular to his wife Valerie. His work and struggle for the Kurdish people and for peace and democracy in Turkey and the Middle East stands like a bauta for Humanity. We are forever grateful for all you have done for the cause of the Kurdish people.

We shine peace upon your memory!

Kariane Westrheim
Chair of EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC)

+47 976 42 088

The Annual International Conference on the EU, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds was hosted by the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) in cooperation with the GUE/NGL Group, the Greens-European Free Alliance (GREENS/EFA) and the Groups of the Free Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D). The conference was successfully held on 5th and 6th of February 2020 in the European Parliament in Brussels.

After his first visit to the country, the Turkey Rapporteur for the European Parliament said, new narratives are needed for the relationship between Turkey and the EU. From the perspective of the conference, new narratives are also needed, not only for relations with Turkey, but also for the whole Middle East. The Kurds are a major influential factor here in terms of stability, peace building, democracy, ecology and gender equality. Together with their regional allies and due to their global perspectives, they provide a basis for new narratives in a region marked by wars and crises. Strengthening cooperation with these democratic forces should therefore be a top priority.

Based on this the conference calls upon the EU member states, the European institutions and the United Nations to:

• Treat Turkey’s occupation of North Syria / Rojava as a clear violation of international law, condemn its policy of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory, and call for an immediate withdrawal of Turkish troops.
• Recognise the North-East Syria’s Autonomous Administration as an important step towards a political solution to the Syrian conflict and to integrate their representatives in the commission for the establishment of a new constitution for Syria. The best way for a solution is to include all ethnic and religious entities in a democratic process leading to a decentralized self-administration with equal rights for women and men.
• Urge Turkey to stop airstrikes and its occupationist endeavors in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq which is a clear violation of international law.
• Urge Turkey to release all elected officials and members of the HDP, to respect the decision of the electorates, and to reinstitute the mayors replaced by the government appointed trustees.
• Not to sacrifice the EU’s democratic values by caving in to Turkey’s blackmailing on the issues of refugee crisis and the jihadist threat.
• Take diplomatic, political and legal measures to compel Turkey to comply with international law concerning the ongoing isolation of Abdullah Ocalan, and urge the Turkish government to immediately release him and to return to dialogue for a political solution to the Kurdish question.
• Contribute to a political solution by lifting all restrictions on Kurdish parties and individuals, in light of the decisions of the European Court of Justice and the Belgian Court of Cassation, which insist that the PKK is not a terrorist organization but a party to an internal armed conflict.

EU Turkey Civic Commission
www.eutcc.net
Twitter: @EUTCC1
Facebook: Eu Turkey Civic Commission

…..

16th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON “THE EUROPEAN UNION, TURKEY, THE MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS”

Brussels, The European Parliament

Wednesday 5th of February – 14:30 – 18:30

Thursday 6th of February – 09:30 – 17:00

PATRONS

ARCHBISHOP EMERITUS DESMOND TUTU

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, South Africa

SHIRIN EBADI

Human Rights Lawyer

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Iran

BIANCA JAGGER

The Council of Europe Goodwill Ambassador

Chair of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, the UK

NOAM CHOMSKY

Institute Professor in the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy,

the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the USA

LEYLA ZANA

European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought,

Rafto Prize Laureate, Turkey

In cooperation with

IMPORTANT TECHNICAL INFORMATION

“HOW TO PARTICIPATE AND ENTER THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT”

An official “European Parliament personal badge/pass” will be available for all participants who have already registered their names.

Your “personal badge / pass” will be available at the main entrance of the European Parliament (Place de Luxembourg – main European Parliament’s building “Altiero Spinelli”

Wednesday 5th of February, 13:00 – 14:00

Thursday 6th of February, 08:00 – 09:00

All participants must take care of their own “EP badge / pass” during both days. If someone loses their “pass / badge”, the EP internal rules make it impossible to produce a replica.

For any additional information, please contact the conference’s secretariat at:

brusselsconferenceep@gmail.com

Wednesday, 5th of February 2020, 14:30-15:30

The Opening Session, Room ASP 1G2 (Spinelli Building)

Interpretation in

Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek

The Opening Speeches and Greetings

Kariane Westrheim, Chair of the EUTCC, University of Bergen, Norway

Nikolaj Villumsen, MEP, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), Denmark

Andreas Schieder, MEP, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Austria

François Alfonsi, MEP, The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), France

Dimitrios Papadimoulis, Vice-President of The European Parliament, Greece

Wednesday, 05th of February 2020, 15:30-17:00

Panel I – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)

Oppression and Resistance in Turkey

Moderator: Mr. Joost Jongerden, University of Wageningen, EUTCC board member, The Netherlands

Interpretation in

Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek

Conflict Over Vital Resources

Benoit Biteau, MEP, The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), France

Strengthening Democratic Forces in Turkey: Challenges vs. Options

Özlem Demirel, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), Germany

Opposition Between Unity and Division

Cihangir Islam, MP, The Felicity Party (SP), Turkey

Turkey 2023: Dictatorship vs. Democracy

Gülistan Koçyiğit, MP, The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Turkey

Questions and Discussion with the Audience

Wednesday, 05th of February 2020, 17:00-18:30

Panel II – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)

The EU – Turkey Relationship: Accession Talks, Refugee Crisis and The Kurds

Moderator: Mr. Cengiz Aktar, Political Scientist

Interpretation in

Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek

Accession talks – (Never) Ending Story?!

Andreas Schieder, MEP, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Austria

The Refugee Crisis and Europe’s Response

Tineke Strik, MEP, The Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA), The Netherlands

The Kurdish Question and Europe: Criminalization vs. Responsibility for Peace Building

Jan Fermon, Lawyer, Belgium

Key Point Imrali: The Power of Freedom

Newroz Uysal, Lawyer, The Asrın Law Office, Turkey

Questions and Discussion with the Audience

Thursday, 06th of February 2020, 09:30-10:30

Panel III – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)

The Middle East in The Context of Turkey’s Invasion of North-East Syria / Rojava

Moderator: Ms. Evin Incir, MEP, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Sweden

Interpretation in

Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek

Turkish Invasion of North-East Syria / Rojava

Leila Chaibi, MEP, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), France

The Kurds: The Gordian Knot or The Central Key

Søren Søndergaard, MP, Enhedslisten – The Red-Green Alliance, Denmark

Turkey’s Expansionist Ambitions

Kirmanj Gundi, Tennessee State University, USA

Post-ISIS: Lines of Conflict with Ethnic and Denominational Impacts

Ferda Çetin, Journalist, Belgium

Questions and Discussion with the Audience

Thursday, 06th of February 2020, 11:00-12:00

Panel IV – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)

The Turkish Invasion of Rojava and its Impact on Women and Gender Equality

Moderator: Ms. Sira Rego, MEP, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), Spain

Interpretation in

Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek

Interview with Representatives of the Democratic Federation of North-East Syria / Rojava

Majdoleen Hassan, Deputy Co-Presidency of The Syrian Democratic Council, North-East Syria / Rojava

Khadija Barakat, The Kongra Star Representative, Germany

Nazire Gewriye, The Syriac Union Party, North-East Syria / Rojava

Thursday, 06th of February 2020, 12:00-13:00

Panel V – Room ASP 1G2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)

Europe and the Middle East: Self-Interest vs. Democracy

Moderator: Mr. Jürgen Klute, Former MEP, Germany

Interpretation in

Kurdish, Turkish, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Greek

European Perspectives on The Complexity of The Middle East

Brando Benifei, MEP, The Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Italy

Europe and The Kurdish Battle

Thomas Schmidinger, Political Scientist, University of Vienna, Austria

Transformation Process from The Kurdish Perspective in The Context of Democracy, Ecology and Gender Equality

Dersim Dağdeviren, KURD-AKAD, EUTCC Board Member, Germany

Europe’s Approach Vis-a-Vis the Ocalan Case

Simon Dubbins, Director of International for UNITE the Union in the UK, the UK

Questions and Discussion with the Audience

Thursday, 06th of February, 15:00-16:00

Panel VI – Room ASP 1E2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)

There Are Alternatives!

Moderator: Mr. Wladimir van Wilgenburg, Journalist, The Netherlands

Interpretation in

Kurdish, Turkish, French, and English. (Passive in Spanish, Germany and Greek)

Towards European and International Politics Based on Solidarity

Malin Björk, MEP, The European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), Sweden

Democracy in War Time: How a Society Reorganises Itself and Offers Perspectives Beyond the Middle East

Nazan Üstündağ, Sociologist, Germany

The Rise of Kurdish Women and Their Battle Against Feminicide

Aviva Stein, The New World Summit, The Netherlands

Rethinking Democracy: Kurdish Perspectives For 2023

Amed Dicle, Journalist, Belgium

Local Solutions to Global Challenges – Living International Solidarity

Juan Carlos Guerra Moldonado, Historian, Ecuador

Questions and Discussion with the Audience

Thursday, 06th of February 2020, 16:15-17:00

The Closing Session – Room ASP 1E2, Altiero Spinelli Building (ASP)

Conclusions, Recommendations and The Final Resolution

Board of the EUTCC

Ms. Dersim Dağdeviren, Germany

Mr. Michael Gunter, USA

Mr. Joost Jongerden, Netherlands

Mr. Thomas J. Miley, UK

Ms. Estella Schmid, UK

Ms. Kariane Westrheim, Norway