Sunday, 29 November 2009European Parliament's draft resolution on Turkey urged the country to strengthen trust in democratic institutions and the rule of law by seizing the opportunity of the ongoing probe into the alleged Ergenekon terrorist organization, a clandestine criminal network including police and military officers, which was said to have been seeking to provoke a military coup.
"The European Commission and the EP share the view that Turkey should take the Ergenekon trial as an opportunity to boost confidence and trust in the reliable functioning of democratic institutions and the rule of law," said the draft resolution, which is scheduled to be put to vote on December 2.
The draft resolution, which had been written by EP's Turkey rapporteur Ria Oomen-Ruijten, voiced concern "over the dimensions the Ergenekon criminal network had reached."
The resolution also called for a comprehensive reform of the Turkish judicial system, which it said had a crucial importance in Turkey's modernization process, to make sure that the country's judicial system complied with the standards of the European Court of Human Rights.
The resolution expressed concern over a suit filed to shut down the Democratic Society Party (DTP), underlining the view of the Council of Europe that laws relating to the closure of political parties had failed to meet requirements of the European Convention of Human Rights.
The resolution said the EP welcomed free and broad discussions in Turkey on "the role of the judiciary, rights of the citizens of Kurdish descent, the rights of the Alevi community, the role of the military and Turkey's relations with its neighbors, which have been traditionally seen as sensitive issues, and the Turkish government deserved a praise for its constructive role in the launching of these discussions."
The resolution said the EP had taken note of "a law that limited the jurisdictional authority of the military courts, however it is unpleasant to see that the law was taken to the Constitutional Court for review with an appeal for annulment."
"It is a source of concern that the military continues to interfere with Turkey's politics and foreign policy and a democratic country should place its army under full civilian supervision," the draft resolution said.
The resolution said the EP welcomed the Turkish government's democratic initiative "to secure that each and every citizen, regardless of its descent and religious belief, can enjoy equal rights and assume an active role in the society," and it called the opposition parties and all sides "to support the process and exert efforts to overcome mutual sensitivities."
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Sunday, 29 November 2009
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