Dutch-EU Presidency calls Kurds and Turkey to resume peace process
by Roni Alasor
Brussels, 14 January 2016 - Middle East Diplomatic (MED) - Speaking in Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament, Bert Koenders, Dutch Foreign Minister, called Kurds and Turkey for a cease fire and urgent resuming of the peace process.
In a comment to questions by Kati Piri, EP’s rapporteur on Turkey and other EP members about the situation in the North Kurdish Region, Mr. Koenders said: “We urgently need cease fire and resuming of peace process in Turkey. I call all the parties to do that, especially now when it threatens people and causes large scale destruction and increased number of intra-national refugees. I hear about tens of guerrilla-soldiers, tens of civilian deaths, people without water, electricity and medical care; public institutions, including schools are closed; there are serious material and economic damages...”
“The Turkish government has right to act against the terror threat, but the actions need to be proportioned and respect for human rights needs to be essential”, added Minister Koenders and insured that the Dutch presidency will be very proactive on these issues.
Just since the last June, including over 60 children and massacres in Suruc and Ankara, more than 400 Kurdish-oppositional civilians and around 1000 Turkish special soldiers and Kurdish guerrilla forces lost their lives. More than 1.4 millions Kurds has been affected by ongoing war, around 200-250.000 Kurds has been displaced and many Kurdish city-towns are surrounded by more than 150.000 Turkish special forces and towns like historical Sur, Silopi and Cizire has been partly destroyed. Kurd are asking for Self-governance / autonomy in the North part of Kurdistan Region (Turkey).
The discussion took place during the presentation of the priorities of the Netherlands Presidency of the European Council on enlargement in the European Parliament today. Currently, Netherlands holds the EU Presidency for the next six months, until 1 July 2016