TURKEY AND THE KURDISH REGIONS OF IRAQ AND TURKEY

Early day motion 790, tabled 26 February 2003 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 46 members.

That this House expresses extreme concern about the move of Turkish troops into northern Iraq; is aware of Turkey's desire to seize control of natural resources in the Kurdish areas of Northern Iraq; believes that a Turkish invasion or occupation of northern Iraq would threaten the successful and autonomous government of the Iraqi Kurdish region; recalls the long standing persecution by Turkey of its own Kurdish population, the suppression of Kurdish culture and language, the use of arbitrary arrest and torture against the Kurdish people and the destruction of thousands of Kurdish villages by Turkish armed forces; calls upon the UN to resist any attempt by Turkey to interfere in the internal affairs of Iraq; and calls upon Her Majesty's Government and the EU to recognise the four-year long ceasefire of the Kurdistan Freedom and Democracy Congress and its continued offer to discuss a democratic solution to the conflict within the borders of the Turkish state, as an opportunity of a peaceful diaglogue with the Kurdish people of Turkey.

Signatures by party: Labour 29, Liberal Democrat 7, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 3, Scottish National Party 3, Conservative 1.