23/04/2013 Session
Strasbourg, 23.04.2013 – The process of legislative and institutional change in Turkey is “ongoing but incomplete”, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has concluded in its first assessment of the country in five years.
In a resolution adopted today on the basis of a report by Josette Durrieu (France, SOC), PACE recognised there had been many reforms in Turkey since 2004 – when the full “monitoring” procedure was closed – but said these only partially responded to the remaining problem areas set out by the Assembly.
The parliamentarians recognised that a “process of major reform” is taking place against a complex background of political transition involving the army and the judiciary, the Kurdish question and regional instability, not least in neighbouring Syria. They also hailed Turkey’s “very significant economic achievements” in the context of global crisis, pointing out that it has become a regional power and a “benchmark” for less stable Muslim countries in the region.
The resolution welcomes Turkey’s progress in many areas, including bringing its legislation into line with the European Convention on Human Rights, advancing the ongoing peace process, promoting the cultural and linguistic rights of the Kurds, stepping up dialogue with religious communities and establishing the institution of ombudsman.
But it also spells out the steps Turkey still needs to take if it is to successfully complete its reform programme, such as further reform of the Constitution and continuing revision of the Criminal Code, as well as progress on freedom of expression, pre-trial detentions, local and regional decentralisation and resolving the Kurdish question.
The Assembly decided to continue its post-monitoring dialogue with Turkey, and offered its full support in intensifying democratic reforms.