Turkey And Kurds: Peace Talks

EDM number 1128 in 2012-13, proposed by Jeremy Corbyn on 27/02/2013.
Categorised under the topics of Asia, Eastern Europe and International politics and government.

That this House acknowledges the positive steps that have been taken by the Turkish government and Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) Leader Abdullah calan to resume peace talks; remains hopeful, despite vested interests intent on derailing the talks as appears evident in the appalling killing of the three Kurdish women activists in Paris on 10 January 2013, that the renewal of talks along with genuine will from both sides will lead to a lasting and democratic resolution, not only to the armed conflict but to the lingering issues of cultural, linguistic and political rights for Kurdish citizens of Turkey; further acknowledges that a peaceful resolution must come from a genuine and negotiated settlement that includes the voices of all partners as equals, including Abdullah calan, the PKK leadership and the Peace and Democracy Party; notes that the continued detention of leading Kurdish politician Adem Uzun in Paris, who played a key role in the Oslo peace talks, is meaningless and counterproductive at this time; and calls on the Government to urge the French authorities to release immediately Abdullah calan from custody.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.