on the situation of the Kurds in Turkey

The European Parliament,

A. having regard to its earlier resolutions on the infringements of the human rights of the Kurds in Turkey and northern Iraq, in particular its resolution of 12 March 1992 on the situation of the Kurds in Iraq, and the talks held on this subject with the Turkish Parliament, and regretting the fact that the meeting of the EC-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee scheduled for 23-25 March 1992 has now been called off by Turkey for the second time,

B. deploring the violence which caused many deaths in south-east Turkey following Kurdish New Year celebrations,

C. whereas such incidents contribute to the spiral of violence,

D. whereas a total curfew has been imposed in several towns, unhampered press reporting is no longer possible and the region is, effectively, in a state of war,

E. outraged at the renewed Turkish military attacks on Iraqi Kurdistan, which have claimed the lives of at least 60 civilians,

F. recalling the declarations on human rights and the rights of minorities by the Council of Europe and the CSCE, of which Turkey is a member,

G. stressing the vital role respect for human rights should play in the relations of the EC with third countries in general, and in particular with associated countries,

H. having regard to the important role which Turkey could play in forging closer relations with the countries in the region, due to its geographical position and membership of NATO, the CSCE and the Council of Europe,

1. Expresses its sympathy with the families of the victims of this outbreak of violence;

2. Condemns the excessive scale and severity of the action taken by the Turkish armed forces in south-east Turkey which violated basic human rights of innocent citizens;

3. Condemns the terrorist acts of the PKK and Dev Sol, which can only damage the efforts of the new Turkish Government to improve respect for human rights throughout Turkey;

4. Calls on Turkey strictly to respect human rights in combating terrorism and not to use military force on its own territory;

5. Calls for an international inquiry to establish who was responsible for these violent clashes between the army, police and demonstrators;

6. Reaffirms its conviction that the Kurdish issue can only be resolved peacefully and that this is a fundamental prerequisite for democratization in Turkey;

7. Calls on the Turkish Government to do everything in its power to restore a climate of confidence between the State and the citizens of that region (in particular by lifting the state of emergency) and establish a dialogue which will lead to a democratic and peaceful settlement with due regard for the rights of all the communities concerned;

8. Calls again on the Council and the Commission to take all possible action within the international community with a view to finding a definitive solution to the Kurdish question;

9. Instructs its EC-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and its Subcommittee on Human Rights to monitor closely the situation in Turkey, to take it up with the Human Rights Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and to bring to light the immediate causes of the violence;

10. Instructs its Enlarged Bureau to consider whether it would be appropriate to send a delegation to the region - made up of members of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, the EC-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs - to investigate the situation on the spot;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, EPC, the Commission, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, the CSCE Secretariat, the Turkish Grand National Assembly and the Government of Turkey.