Antonio TAJANI, EP President opens the Conference on the Human rights in Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Turkey&nbsp;in the EP in Brussels.

Brussels

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

conference

EU - Türkiye (T)

respect for human rights in the world (T)

Conference on the Human rights in Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and in Turkey: extracts from the keynote speech by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, I was a journalist for 20 years. And for me to strengthen the rights of journalists is crucial, is a priority. For this, we are very concerned with the latest developments in Turkey. The country is alleged to have the largest number of journalists in jail. The recent statement by Erdogan accusing Deniz, the German reporter from Die Welt, of being a terrorist for just doing is job, is extremely worrying.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, It is also unacceptable that the President of Turkey referred to Nazism in relation to a democratic country. Germany fully guarantees all fundamental freedoms and with these comments, Erdogan offends all Europeans.

<p>SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, In Bosnia and Herzegovina the national journalists association registered forty (40)cases of media freedom violations only in 2016.In Albania, Belarus, the FYROM, Moldova and Montenegro several journalists have been detained, or impeded for just doing their jobs.The situation in Russia is also of concern. It is estimated that more than thirty-six (36) journalists have been murdered there since nineteen ninety-two (1992).</p>

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, We are fully on the side of the rule of law and democracy and we strongly condemn the attempted coup in Turkey. We expressed the European solidarity for all the victims.However, we cannot turn a blind eye to the forty one thousand (41 000) people jailed and ninety thousand (90 000) who lost their jobs as a result of this dramatic event. According to the media, over six thousand (6,000) political activists are in prison and more than one hundred twenty five thousand (125 000) civil servants have been investigated.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, In Moldova, the opposition leader and five other activists were detained for political reasons. In Albania, we note problems with the treatment of minorities. And the list goes on.Unfortunately, despite your strong effort and the support from Europe, we note that the situation is not improving. As a matter of fact, the Commission&rsquo;s 2016 reports say that no progress has been registered in the area of freedom of expression for all six Western Balkan countries.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI, EP President, Our engagement is in favour of human rights not only inside the EU. We are strongly engaged against death penalty, everywhere. Death penalty also for Turkey, is a red line. It is impossible to be a member of the EU with the death penalty.