14/05/2013 President
Strasbourg, 14.05.2013 – Turkey is an indispensable partner for promoting the aims and values of the Council of Europe, Jean-Claude Mignon, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), said today, speaking during an official visit to the country (13-15 May).
The President, speaking in Ankara following a meeting with President Abdullah Gül and other leading officials in the country, said that Turkey, with its solid democratic system, was an example for the whole region, in particular Arab countries undergoing democratic transition as well as the countries of central Asia. “It is also an essential partner for solving frozen conflicts, in particular the one in Nagorno-Karabakh,” he said.
Mr Mignon also reiterated his strong condemnation of recent terrorist attacks, and of terrorism in general.
He called on the international community to urgently find a political solution to the conflict in Syria, which, he said, “represents a greater and greater danger for the stability of the whole region”. He expressed his appreciation at the efforts made by the Turkish authorities to welcome Syrian refugees, and called for greater international solidarity in dealing with the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
He also welcomed the reforms undertaken by Turkey as regards democratic institutions and human rights, and its exemplary co-operation with the Council of Europe in implementing these reforms. He invited Turkey to continue on the path of reform by following the recommendations in the Assembly’s recent resoluion on “post-monitoring dialogue” with the country, especially those dealing with judicial reform and reform of the Constitution.
Finally, he welcomed Turkey’s commitment to combating violence against women, and proposed working with the authorities on a rapid entry into force of the Istanbul Convention and its promotion across Europe.
The discussions also centred on the role of the Council of Europe and its relations with the European Union, as well as on reform of the Council of Europe and the operation of PACE’s monitoring procedure.
The President met the President of the Republic, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, the Minister for the Family and Social Policy, the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister and representatives of various political parties, as well as members of the Turkish delegation to PACE.