Debate&nbsp; on the Situation in Turkey, during the EP plenary session (12-15/09/2016) in Strasbourg. Statements by Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), Kati PIRI (S&amp;D, NL), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF (ALDE, DE), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

EU - Türkiye (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

BROK, Elmar (EPP, DE)

MOGHERINI, Federica (IT, EC)

PIRI, Kati (S&D, NL)

TANNOCK, Timothy Charles Ayrton (ECR, UK)

HARMS, Rebecca (Greens/EFA, DE)

LAMBSDORFF, Alexander Graf (ALDE, DE)

Situation in Turkey: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, In this very difficult and delicate junction we also have made clear that Turkey must recommit strongly to those principles and values that are core of that democracy that the Turkish people protected and defended on the night of the 15th of July: the rule of law, freedoms, pluralism including the rights that are at the core of any democracy, including the guarantee for anybody the right for fair trial.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, The Kurdish issue, it was once again the core issue of our meetings in Ankara, both with the government and opposition parties, I have repeated clearly that the EU names the PKK a terrorist organisation and so do all the member states of the EU, we believe that all violence and terrorist attacks have to end and arms should be laid down, at the same time we believe that a credible political process should start.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, It is the military field that let's say which is too busy at the moment to allow the political and humanitarian work, that is needed and urgent, to be developed, so I really hope that all actors on the ground now would open the space for the political and humanitarian work really to start.

SOUNDBITE (English), Federica MOGHERINI, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the EC, We have seen both the EU and Turkey in this moment are willing to facilitate, to accompany, to come finally to a solution in the settlement talks, to bring finally peace to the island of Cyprus and to send a powerful message of reconciliation to the entire region and to the EU continent somehow. This is one of the issues that are not minor in our discussions, actually are central in our discussions with them.

SOUNDBITE (German), Elmar BROK (EPP, DE), We call for the peace process with the Kurds to be resumed involving the HDP, but we have also to understand that the government that is facing terrorism from both PKK and ISIS within their own territory and also the situation after the putsch represents a very difficult situation indeed.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kati PIRI (S&amp;D, NL), Turkish democracy does have the chance to come out of this situation strengthened by embracing media pluralism that played a crucial role that night in informing the people, by working together with all political forces on much needed constitutional reform and as a last point, by proving that the rule of law is the guiding principal in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

SOUNDBITE (English), Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK), As we now see 10.000 have been removed from their posts in the army, the judiciary, the civil service, academia and private media outlets with little or no fair process, such an approach, solely on the basis that they are all G&uuml;len terrorists cannot be justified.

SOUNDBITE (English), Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF (ALDE, DE), I wouldn't' t like to see situations again like in Cologne, where AKP supporters and G&uuml;lenists on the other hand are opposed, in many German cities and the Netherlands we have seen that. It is important that the Turkish Embassies and Consulate take an active role in this area.

SOUNDBITE (German), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), These prosecutions based on the rule of law must be proportionate, because what we see in Turkey, what we have seen since the Putsch is not proportionate and it is far in line with the rule of law.

SOUNDBITE (German), Rebecca HARMS (Greens/EFA, DE), The gravity of the situation, those people in Turkey who have always referred to Europe and the European process, they are expecting that we stand for the rule of law, we need dialogue, we need all opportunities to promote dialogue and to protect people and to make sure that rule of law is respected. Most important for me and increasing though every day is a return to the peace process, the military approach to the Kurds and using the pretext of ISIS to step up this campaign cannot continue.