The 16the International Conference titled “The European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds” has opened today at European Parliament in Brussels.

The annual conference is organised by European Union Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) in cooperation with the Kurdish Institute of Brussels and sees the participation of several political parties representatives and renowned individuals. The conference is supported by European United Left – Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL), the Greens/EFA and Socialists and Democrats (S&D).

The conference kicked off with opening speeches which were also translated into Kurdish. Wednesday’s session hosted panel discussion on “Oppression and Resistance in Turkey”, The EU - Turkey Relationship: Accession Talks, Refugee Crisis and The Kurds”, “The Refugee Crisis and Europe’s Response”, “EU Accession Talks”, “The Kurdish Question and Europe: Criminalization vs. Responsibility for Peace Building” and “Key Point Imrali: The Power for Freedom”.

Parliamentarians from Turkey, Kurdistan and Europe spoke at the first discussion moderated by EUTCC board member Joost Jongreden from the University of Wageningen.

Jongreden said it was time to adopt a stand against Turkey and to go beyond reactions like “we are concerned”. He said pressure must be put on the European Union in this regard.

BITEAU: WATER SOURCES RISE ON KURDISH LANDS

French MEP Benoit Biteau of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) made a presentation on “conflicts over vital resources” and handled Kurdish lands in the framework of its resources.

Pointing to the tensions around the Euphrates and Tigris rivers in particular, Biteau said “water resources rise on Kurdish lands” and recalled the previous tensions in Mesopotamia over water sharing which -he said- will be a central issue with regards to climate change.

DEMİREL: WHY WOULDN’T THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE IMPOSE AN EMBARGO?

Özlem Demirel of the GUE/NGL noted that the European Parliament has often treated the Turkey issue recently. Describing the developments in Turkey as “shocking”, she highlighted the repression against the opposition, women and various circles of the society in Turkey.

Demirel remarked that Turkish President Erdoğan has always relied on EU funds and criticised German car group Volkswagen’s plan to construct a new factory in Turkey.

Recalling that the EP has condemned the Turkish invasion of North-East Syria while the Council of Europe did not impose an arms embargo in Turkey, Demirel said; “This is a contradiction to which we should draw more attention.”

Mentioning the Turkish militarization in foreign policy, Demirel said Erdoğan resorted to do this in an attempt to overcome the domestic crisis.

Criticising the lack of freedom of press and expression in Turkey, Demirel said that the European press should make more efforts in this regard.

ISLAM: I WANT A LASTING PEACE BETWEEN TURKS AND KURDS

Saadet (Felicity) Party MP Cihangir İslam from Turkey said he wanted a lasting peace between Turks and Kurds. He continued; “There are serious problems in Turkey. I am an opponent too but I saw that there is a democracy experience in Turkey after all.”

İslam said what Turkey needed was an order.

KOÇYİĞİT: THIS IS OUR STRUGGLE

The last speech of the first session was made by HDP MP Gğlistan Koçyiğit who recalled the previous dialogue processes between the Turkish state and the PKK and talked about the circumstances of those times.

Recalling the Gezi movement and the uprising for Kobanê, she said; “Kurds and Turks united and mobilized themselves for the sake of a joint future at that time.”

The HDP MP pointed out that the Turkish government made plans to eliminate the Kurds once again after the 7 June 2015 elections while everyone expected a negotiated solution to the existing problems. She recalled that this was followed by a long period of injustices and brutal campaigns in Cizre, Sur and Nusaybin.

Koçyiğit also recalled the massacres of Ankara, Amed and Suruç, saying; “There exists the reality of a society resisting against all this. We are resisting in Turkey and Kurdistan. This is our struggle and we are determined to give this struggle.”

She added that they expected the international community to present realist solutions.

The second and last panel of the first day handled “The EU - Turkey Relationship: Accession Talks, Refugee Crisis and The Kurds”, moderated by political scientist Prof. Cengiz Aktar.

SCHIEDER: THIS TURKEY HAS NO PLACE IN THE EU

MEP Andreas Schieder of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) spoke about the never-ending accession talks of Turkey. He said the EU needed a Turkey with welfare and compliance with EU procedures. He said Turkey was a tough candidate as it did not respect fundamental rights.

Schieder remarked that effort should be made for the release of jailed journalists, politicians, mothers and activits. He highlighted the need to discuss the pre-accession funds provided for Turkey.

The S&D politician also talked about the Turkish invasion of Rojava and described Turkey’s acts in the region as a demographic change seeking to eliminate Kurdish territories. “The European Union should not accept this and sanctions should be implemented,” he said and stressed that he opposed the EU membership of such a country.

MEP Tineke Strik of the Greens/European Free Alliance (Greens/EFA) spoke about the refugee crisis and Europe’s response and pointed out that the European Union had to keep silent against Turkey because of the refugee deal.

Strik described the refugee deal as a deadlock and said efforts should be made to avoid the implementation of this system as a model in other cases.

FERMON ON BELGIAN PKK VERDICT: A FIRST IN EUROPE

Lawyer Jan Fermon from Belgium spoke about the Belgian Court of Cassation ruling of January 28 that PKK is not a terrorist organisation and cannot be tried on terrorism laws in Belgium.

Fermon noted that the ruling was a first of its kind in Europe and presented the WikiLeaks documents revealing that the US Embassy had exerted pressure on Belgium to act against the PKK.

The whole case was organised at the US Embassy on Turks’ demand, he said and noted that the case has been concluded after 10 years.

The Belgian lawyer said; “This ruling opens a new perspective. The conflict needs to be settled.”

Pointing out the need for assistance for the parties of the conflict to bring it to an end, Fermon called for European countries to stop criminalization and develop a different attitude.

Fermon recalled that the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg disqualified the arguments presented for the PKK to be added on the list of terrorist organizations from 2014 to 2017 and cancelled the list in 2018.

“People of Belgium should apply to the Council of Europe and announce that they do not support this list. This would lead to discussions on the terrorist label imposed on the PKK at the Council,” he added.

LAWYER OF ÖCALAN TALKS ABOUT THE ISOLATION

The last speech of the session was made by lawyer Newroz Uysal from Asrın Law Office. Uysal talked about the isolation imposed on Kurdish People’s Leader Abdullah Öcalan whose captivity on Imralı Island will leave 21 years behind on February 15. Uysal recalled that not a single lawyer was allowed Access to Imralı for a total of eight years. She drew a parallel between the aggravated isolation and the deepening crisis in the Middle East.

Uysal conveyed the messages sent by Öcalan through his lawyers at the latest meeting that followed the mass hunger strike protest joined by thousands of people in Turkey, Kurdistan and Europe under the leadership of prisoners. Highlighting Öcalan’s ongoing efforts for peace, Uysal said it would be a mistake to treat the Imralı isolation system as a reflection of Turkey’s prison policies as she stressed that the isolation was the beginning of the isolation and repression policy in Turkey.

This is not a singular human rights violation but the point that gives the clearest picture of Turkey, she underlined.

The lawyer called on the international community to act for the isolation to end, calling for an accurate establishment of the relationship between Turkey’s democratization and the rights of the Kurds.