[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2200-E2203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOE KNOLLENBERG

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 15, 2000

  Mr. KNOLLENBERG. Mr. Speaker, in the closing days of the 106th 
Congress, I rise today to add perspective to the issue of the Armenian 
Genocide. Like many, I was deeply disappointed that the House did not 
consider H. Res. 596, the Armenian Genocide Resolution.
  As my colleagues are well aware, the resolution was not considered 
because the Republic of Turkey decided to turn a sense of the House 
Resolution about the extensive U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide 
into a litmus test of its relationship with the United States. In an 
effort to stop the resolution, Turkey made repeated threats. In fact, 
many newspaper articles covering the progress of H. Res. 596 cited 
Turkey's numerous threats should this body move forward.
  These threats were not only directed at the United States, but also 
at Armenia and Armenians living in Turkey. In Istanbul, Turkey, people 
threw rocks at the windows of the Armenian Church of Samatia, an 
Armenian priest was subjected to physical attacks, another priest was 
arrested for referencing the Armenian Genocide, True Path Party leader 
Tansu Ciller called for the deportation of 30,000 Armenians, military 
activities increased along the border, and this shocking list goes on.
  I regret that the Republic of Turkey opted to use coercion to make 
its case. However, it is even more regrettable that the United States 
succumbed to such tactics. I believe that we must remain vigilant in 
the fact of threats and those who continue to deny the Armenian 
Genocide.
  While the resolution was aborted in Congress, internationally the 
pace of Genocide affirmation continued. During November alone, despite 
Turkish threats, the European Parliament, along with France and Italy, 
all adopted resolutions affirming the Armenian Genocide. In addition, 
Pope John Paul II recognized the Armenian Genocide. Today I am 
submitting copies of these documents for the record.
  Many experts have called for a dialogue between Turkey and Armenia on 
this subject. In fact, on October 3rd, the State Department offered to 
broker a dialogue between these two countries. While Armenia has 
repeatedly agreed, Turkey has refused. During his address at the 
Assembly of Turkish-American Associations in Washington, DC last month, 
Anthony Blinken, U.S. National Security Council European Director, 
indicated that Turkey had the responsibility to take the first step to 
start a dialogue with Armenia. Blinken said ``as a small, landlocked 
country suffering from economic problems, Armenia sees Turkey as 
offering a fist, not a hand.''
  I agree with Mr. Blinken on this point. From Armenia's perspective, 
Turkey's ongoing hostile actions and continued violations of 
international human rights laws and treaties represent a significant 
security threat. Turkey's defense spending is the highest of any NATO 
country as a percentage of its Gross National Product (GNP) and over 
the next 25 years Turkey plans to spend $150 billion modernizing its 
armed forces--against whom is unclear. Armenia simply does not have the 
resources to defend its own borders, especially given Turkey's military 
superiority and defense spending. Turkey's blockade, refusal to 
establish normal relations, military superiority, refusal to 
acknowledge the Armenian Genocide, and complete solidarity with 
Azerbaijan's demands regarding the Nagorno Karabagh conflict has only 
served to reinforce Armenia's view and has forced Armenia to rely on 
third parties to buttress its security capacity. As my colleagues know, 
Armenians faced genocide at the beginning of the 20th Century and the 
Armenians of Nagorno Karabagh suffered another attack during the end of 
the 20th Century. It is incumbent on us to ensure that Armenians and 
others around the world are not subjected to genocide in the 21st 
Century.
  I would like to point out to my colleagues that since gaining its 
independence Armenia has consistently reached out and sought to 
normalize relations with Turkey only to be rebuffed at every step. Last 
year, when Turkey suffered a devastating earthquake, Armenia was one of 
the first countries to offer assistance. Armenia, having endured a 
major earthquake years before, has developed an expertise in earthquake 
response and recovery. Despite Armenia's offer, Turkey initially 
rejected assistance. In fact, it was reported that Turkey's Minister of 
Health, Osman Durmus, rejected offers of blood from Armenia because he 
didn't want Turkish blood mixed with theirs. More recently, Armenia 
offered earthquake assistance to Azerbaijan. To date, Azerbaijan has 
not accepted Armenia's offer. Finally, Armenia's President, Robert 
Kocharian has proposed the creation of a regional security system that 
will facilitate long-term peace and regional cooperation. President 
Kocharian stated, ``the creation of such a system will allow the states 
of the region to cast away the current concerns and to overcome the 
atmosphere of distrust. It will allow [the settlement of] the current 
conflicts, to avoid the emergence of new dividing lines, to establish 
long-term peace, and to think about prospects of development and [a] 
prosperous future.'' Turkey did not take President Kocharian up on his 
offer.
  Time and time again, Armenia has shown its willingness to normalize 
relations with its neighbors. However, Armenia's offers have fallen on 
deaf ears. In my view, if Congress is unwilling to recognize and affirm 
the U.S. record in response to the Armenian Genocide, why would Turkey 
feel any obligation to enter into a dialogue with its weaker neighbor 
Armenia when it has successfully silenced the United States? It is my 
hope that we can continue to work on these important human rights 
issues during the 107th Congress and create an atmosphere in the 
Caucasus region whereby the security of all countries is not at issue 
and people can exchange views without the fear of retribution.

                           Italian Resolution

       The Italian Chamber of Deputies has observed that on 
     November 15, 2000 the European Parliament approved by a large 
     majority a proposal deriving from the Periodic Review on the 
     progress made by Turkey towards admission to the European 
     Community, a review completed by the European Commission in 
     1999. The Turkish government has been encouraged to intensify 
     its efforts towards democratization, especially in the fields 
     of criminal law reform, independence of the judiciary, 
     freedom of expression, and the rights of minorities.
       The Italian Chamber of Deputies has also observed that the 
     recent resolution deals with questions concerning the 
     Armenian people in three paragraphs of particular 
     significance: ``we urge recognition of the genocide inflicted 
     upon the Armenian minority [within the Ottoman Empire] 
     committed before the creation of the modern Republic of 
     Turkey (paragraph 10); improvement of relations with Turkey's 
     neighbors in the Caucasus, as proposed by the Turkish 
     government itself (paragraph 20;'' and, in support of the 
     suggestion put forward in paragraph 21 by the Hon. D. Cohn-
     Bendit, President of the Bipartisan Parliamentary Commission 
     on UE-Turkish relations, ``invites the Turkish government to 
     open negotiations with the Republic of Armenia, restore 
     diplomatic relations and trade between the two countries, 
     placing an end to the blockade currently in place.''
       The Chamber of Deputies therefore urges the Italian 
     Government, in concordance with the proposals described 
     above, to pursue energetically the easing of all tensions 
     between peoples and minorities in that area, [i.e. the 
     Caucasus], in order to create, with due observance of the 
     territorial integrity of the

[[Page E2201]]

     two states, pacific coexistence and respect for human rights, 
     thereby expediting a more rapid integration of Turkey within 
     the European Community.

                                  ____
                                  

       International Affirmation of the Armenian Genocide--
     Resolutions and Declarations--Vatican City, November 10, 
     2000, Joint Communique of Pope John Paul II and Catholicos 
     Karekin II
       His Holiness Pope John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, and His 
     Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All 
     Armenians, give thanks to the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
     for enabling them to meet together on the occasion of the 
     Jubilee of the Year 2000 and on the threshold of the 1700th 
     anniversary of the proclamation of Christianity as the state 
     religion of Armenia.
       They also give thanks in the Holy Spirit that the fraternal 
     relations between the See of Rome and the See of Etchmiadzin 
     have further developed and deepened in recent years. This 
     progress finds its expression in their present personal 
     meeting and particularly in the gift of a relic of Saint 
     Gregory the Illuminator, the holy missionary who converted 
     the king of Armenia (301 A.D.) and established the line of 
     Catholicoi of the Armenian Church. The present meeting builds 
     upon the previous encounters between Pope Paul VI and 
     Catholicos Vasken I (1970) and upon the two meetings between 
     Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin I (1996 and 1999). 
     Pope John Paul II and Catholicos Karekin II now continue to 
     look forward to a possible meeting in Armenia. On the present 
     occasion, they wish to state together the following.
       Together we confess our faith in the Triune God and in one 
     Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, who became man for 
     our salvation. We also believe in One, Catholic, Apostolic 
     and Holy Church. The Church, as the Body of Christ, indeed, 
     is one and unique. This is our common faith, based on the 
     teachings of the Apostles and the Fathers of the Church. We 
     acknowledge furthermore that both the Catholic Church and the 
     Armenian Church have true sacraments, above all--by apostolic 
     succession of bishops--the priesthood and the Eucharist. We 
     continue to pray for full and visible communion between us. 
     The liturgical celebration we preside over together, the sign 
     of peace we exchange and the blessing we give together in the 
     name of our Lord Jesus Christ, testify that we are brothers 
     in the episcopacy. Together we are jointly responsible for 
     what is our common mission: to teach the apostolic faith and 
     to witness to the love of Christ for all human beings, 
     especially those living in difficult circumstances.
       The Catholic Church and the Armenian Church share a long 
     history of mutual respect, considering their various 
     theological, liturgical and canonical traditions as 
     complementary, rather than conflicting. Today, too, we have 
     much to receive from one another. For the Armenian Church, 
     the vast resources of Catholic learning can become a treasure 
     and source of inspiration, through the exchange of scholars 
     and students, through common translations and academic 
     initiatives, through different forms of theological dialogue. 
     Likewise for the Catholic Church, the steadfast, patient 
     faith of a martyred nation like America can become a source 
     of spiritual strength, particularly through common prayer. It 
     is our firm desire to see these many forms of mutual 
     exchanged and rapprochement between us improved and 
     intensified.
       As we embark upon the third millennium, we look back on the 
     past and forward to the future. As to the past, we thank God 
     for the many blessings we have received from his infinite 
     bounty, for the holy witness given by so many saints and 
     martyrs, for the spiritual and cultural heritage bequeathed 
     by our ancestors. Many times, however, both the Catholic 
     Church and the Armenian Church have lived through dark and 
     difficult periods. Christian faith was contested by atheistic 
     and materialistic ideologies; Christian witness was opposed 
     by totalitarian and violent regimes; Christian love was 
     suffocated by individualism and the pursuit of personal 
     interest. Leaders of nations no longer feared God, nor did 
     they feel ashamed before humankind. For both of us, the 20th 
     century was marked by extreme violence. The Armenian 
     genocide, which began the century, was a prologue to horrors 
     that would follow. Two words wars, countless regional 
     conflicts and deliberately organized campaigns of 
     extermination took the lives of millions of faithful. 
     Nevertheless, without diminishing the horror of these events 
     and their consequences, there may be a kind of divine 
     challenge in them, if in response Christians are persuaded to 
     join together in deeper friendship in the cause of Christian 
     truth and love.
       We now look to the future with hope and confidence. At this 
     juncture in history, we see new horizons for us Christians 
     and for the world. Both in the East and West, after having 
     experienced the deadly consequences of godless regimes and 
     lifestyles, many people are yearning for the knowledge of 
     truth and the way of salvation. Together, guided by charity 
     and respect for freedom, we seek to answer their desire, so 
     as to bring them to the sources of authentic life and true 
     happiness. We seek the inercession of the Apostles Peter and 
     Paul, Thaddeus and Bartholomew, of Saint Gregory the 
     Illuminator and all Saintly Pastors of the Catholic Church 
     and the Armenian Church, and pray the Lord to guide our 
     communities so that, with one voice, we may give witness to 
     the Lord and proclaim the truth of salvation. We also pray 
     that around the world, wherever members of the Armenian and 
     the Catholic Church live side by side, all ordained 
     ministers, religious and faithful will ``help to carry one 
     another's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ'' 
     (Gal 6:2). May they mutually sustain and assist one another, 
     in full respect of their particular identities and 
     ecclesiastical traditions, avoiding to prevail one over 
     another: ``so then, as often as we have the chance, we should 
     do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to 
     our family in the faith'' (Gal 6:10).
       Finally, we seek the intercession of the Holy Mother of God 
     for the sake of peace. May the Lord grant wisdom to the 
     leaders of nations, so that justice and peace may prevail 
     throughout the world. In these days in particular, we pray 
     for peace in the Middle East. May all the children of Abraham 
     grown in mutual respect and find appropriate ways for living 
     peacefully together in this sacred part of the world.

                                  ____
                                  

                 9. Turkey's Progress Towards Accession


  European Parliament resolution on the 1999 Regular Report from the 
  Commission on Turkey's progress towards accession (COM(1999) 513-C5-
                       0036/2000-2000/2014(COS))

       The European Parliament,
       --having regard to Turkey's application for accession to 
     the European Union,
       --having regard to its resolution of 3 December 1998 on the 
     European Strategy for Turkey,
       --having regard to the 1999 Regular Report from the 
     Commission on Turkey's progress towards accession (COM(1999) 
     513-C5-0036/2000),
       --having regard to its resolution of 2 December 1999 on the 
     implementation of measures to intensify the EC-Turkey customs 
     union,
       --having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 764/2000 of 
     10 April 2000 regarding the implementation of measures to 
     intensify the EC-Turkey Customs Union,
       --having regard to its resolution of 6 September 2000 on 
     measures to promote economic and social development in 
     Turkey,
       --having regard to its resolution of 7 September 2000 on 
     the Turkish bombardment of northern Iraq,
       --having regard to Rule 47(1) of the rules of Procedure,
       --having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign 
     Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy 
     (A5-0297/2000),
       A. recalling the decision taken on 13 December 1999 by the 
     European Council meeting in Helsinki to grant Turkey the 
     status of candidate country for accession to the European 
     Union and to establish an accession partnership and a single 
     financial framework with a view to helping Turkey's 
     application to progress in accordance with the Copenhagen 
     Criteria,
       B. whereas, following the granting to Turkey of candidate 
     country status, the Union must now, by common agreement with 
     the Turkish Government, devise and implement in an 
     appropriate manner a credible comprehensive strategy with a 
     view to accession,
       C. whereas accession negotiations cannot begin until Turkey 
     complies with the Copenhagen criteria,
       D. whereas a climate of mutual trust should be created 
     between Turkey and the European Union so that Turkey does not 
     perceive the Union as an ``exclusive Christian club'' but as 
     a community of shared values which embrace, in particular, 
     tolerance for other religions and cultures, and whereas no 
     formal cultural or religious conditions are attached to 
     accession to the European Union,
       E. whereas a clear and detailed programme will be an 
     effective encouragement to accelerate reform in favour of 
     protection of human rights and democracy, and will greatly 
     strengthen the hand of those in the Turkish government, 
     parliament, and civil society institutions who are keen to 
     establish full respect for basic rights in their country,
       F. noting the legislative changes carried out along the 
     path towards democratisation since the 1995 constitutional 
     reform and the establishment in the Turkish Grand National 
     Assembly of the Conciliation Committee, which is responsible 
     for reforming the constitution,
       G. welcoming the signature by Turkey on 15 August and 8 
     September 2000 of four important UN conventions, on 
     political, civil, social and cultural rights respectively, 
     which must be ratified as soon as possible so that human 
     rights and democratic pluralism may be guaranteed in that 
     country,
       H. emphasising that, despite the progress already achieved 
     along the path towards democratisation, human rights and the 
     situation of minorities must continue to be improved by the 
     implementation of those conventions,
       I. whereas, according to Lord Russell-Johnston, President 
     of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the 
     confirmation by Ankara of the sentence imposed on former 
     Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan is not in conformity with 
     the principles of democratic pluralism,

[[Page E2202]]

       J. whereas Resolution 1250 of the UN Security Council 
     called on the Turkish and Greek Cypriot communities to begin 
     negotiations in the autumn of 1999, and whereas no progress 
     in that direction has been recorded, despite the encouraging 
     contacts made under the aegis of the UN Secretary-General in 
     December 1999 and in January 2000; regretting, on the 
     contrary, the violation of the military status quo by Turkish 
     occupation forces in the village of Strovilia since 1 July 
     2000,
       K. whereas the judgment of the European Court of Human 
     Rights in ``Lozidou v. Turkey'' (No 15318/89), handed down on 
     28 July 1998 and ruling in favour of the plaintiff, has still 
     not been implemented,
       L. whereas the election to the Presidency of the Republic 
     of Mr. Sezer, who has demonstrated his commitment to the rule 
     of law, will make it easier for the necessary reforms to be 
     successfully completed,
       M. noting Turkey's place in the economy of Europe--it had a 
     GDP of USD 185 billion in 1999--and the links already 
     established between Turkey and the European Union, with
       N. whereas, in December 1999, the package of economic 
     reforms demanded by the IMF with a view to introducing 
     budgetary austerity and to curbing galloping inflation was 
     approved by the Turkish Parliament,
       O. encouraging the Turkish Government, on the one hand, to 
     commit itself to carrying out structural reforms which, 
     ranging from dismantling state subsidies to reorganizing 
     pensions and accelerating privatisation, must therefore 
     strengthen the bases of a free market economy accessible to 
     all and, on the other, to continue its efforts to adopt 
     Community legislation,
       P. recognizing Turkey's important geostrategic position, 
     having regard to its role within the Atlantic Alliance and 
     its status of WEU associate member, but noting that 
     geopolitical and strategic considerations must not be the 
     decisive factors in negotiations about accession,
       Q. welcoming the fact that Turkey has signalled its 
     intention to commit military capabilities under the common 
     European security and defense policy,
       R. regretting and unequivocally condemning the recent 
     incursion by the Turkish Air Force into Iraqi airspace when 
     Kendakor was bombed on 15 August 2000,
       S. endorsing the view set out in the Commission report that 
     Turkey has undertaken a significant process of self-
     evaluation as regards the level of harmonisation of its 
     legislation with the acquis communautaire and that it is the 
     only candidate country to have joined the Customs Union,
       T. welcoming the decision taken in this spirit on 5 July 
     2000 by the Turkish Parliament to include in the eighth five-
     year development plan the principles governing transposition 
     of the acquis communautaire and to establish a Secretariat 
     for the European Union responsible for coordinating the work 
     required for such transposition,
       U. emphasizing, however, that a sustained effort is still 
     needed to push through the current reform of the Turkish 
     Civil Code, with particular regard to parental and women's 
     rights,
       V. expressing its concern about the bill seeking to make it 
     possible to dismiss civil servants on ideological or 
     religious grounds,
       I. Welcomes the resumption of institutional activities and 
     political dialogue in the Association Council, which met on 
     11 April after being suspended for three years, and welcomes 
     in particular the recent implementation of the Association 
     Council's conclusions with the initiation of an analytical 
     review of the acquis communautaire through the establishment 
     of eight subcommittees entrusted with the task of setting 
     priorities for incorporation of the acquis; notes with 
     satisfaction that the first meetings of three of those 
     subcommittees have been successful and trusts that the 
     remaining subcommittees' meetings will be held by the end of 
     this year;
       2. Encourages the Turkish Government to step up its efforts 
     to achieve democratisation, with particular regard to reform 
     of the Penal Code, independence of the judiciary, freedom of 
     expression, the rights of minorities and the separation of 
     powers, and especially the impact of the role of the army on 
     Turkish political life;
       3. Calls on the Turkish Government and Parliament to ratify 
     and implement the UN conventions on political, civil, social 
     and cultural rights which it signed recently;
       4. Encourages in this respect the Turkish Parliament and 
     Government to incorporate in the government programme the 
     report drawn up by the Secretariat of the Turkish Supreme 
     Coordination Council for Human Rights; welcomes the Turkish 
     Council of Ministers' adoption of this report on 21 September 
     2000 as a ``reference and working document''; and calls for 
     the section on cultural rights to be reinserted into the 
     report, with specific measures to protect the rights of 
     minorities being added thereto;
       5. Looks forward to the early abolition of the State 
     Security Courts and welcomes the adoption of the law 
     suspending the prosecution of, and penalties imposed on, 
     press and broadcasting offences;
       6. Calls, initially, for an amnesty with a view to 
     achieving a reform of the Penal Code in the medium term so 
     that it complies with the universal principle of freedom of 
     expression;
       7. Views the recent decision by the Constitutional Court on 
     the law offering a reprieve to those who have committed press 
     offences as a step that reinforces the rule of law; 
     encourages the competent authorities to take this opportunity 
     to continue their reforms in this direction, knowing that 
     this process will logically lead them to a fundamental 
     reconsideration of Article 312 of the Penal Code;
       8. Calls, after the many promises made to this effect, for 
     the death penalty to be abolished as soon as possible as part 
     of the reform of the Penal Code and, pending such abolition, 
     for the current moratorium on executions to be maintained;
       9. Recalls the importance it attaches to recognition of the 
     basic rights of the cultural, linguistic and religious groups 
     in Turkey, who make up the country's multifaceted population;
       10. Calls, therefore, on the Turkish Government and the 
     Turkish Grand National Assembly to give fresh support to the 
     Armenian minority, as an important part of Turkish society, 
     in particular by public recognition of the genocide which 
     that minority suffered before the establishment of the modern 
     state of Turkey;
       11. Notes the decisions taken on 30 November 1999 to lift 
     the state of emergency in the Province of Siirt and on 26 
     June 2000 in the Province of Van, and calls on the Turkish 
     Government to lift the state of emergency in the other 
     provinces of the south-eastern region as well; calls for a 
     specific solution to be found for the Kurdish people, 
     encompassing the requisite political, economic and social 
     responses;
       12. Urges the Turkish Government genuinely to redirect its 
     policy with a view to improving the human rights situation of 
     all its citizens, including those belonging to groups whose 
     roots go back deep into the country's past, by putting an end 
     to the political, social and
       13. Demands the release of Leyla Zana, winner of the 
     European Parliament Sakharov Prize, and of the former MPs of 
     Kurdish origin imprisoned because of the views they hold;
       14. Welcomes the Turkish Government's adoption in September 
     2000 of an action plan which aims to restore economic balance 
     with a view to resolving regional disparities by committing 
     appropriate resources, and to promote the reopening of 
     hamlets and the reconstruction of villages so that their 
     inhabitants may return to them, together with other measures 
     aimed at boosting investment in the south-east;
       15. Welcomes the decisions taken by the Helsinki European 
     Council to set up a single financial framework, based on an 
     appropriate level of resources, and an accession partnership; 
     calls on the Council and Commission to implement those two 
     decisions as soon as possible and to reassess the amount of 
     the European Union's financial assistance to Turkey, which 
     should meet the needs of the pre-accession strategy on the 
     basis of previous European Council conclusions with 
     particular reference to the issue of human rights as well as 
     the issues referred to in paragraphs 4 and 9(a) of the 
     Helsinki conclusions;
       16. Calls on the European Council, in accordance with the 
     provisions of the European Union's political dialogue with 
     the associated countries, to take note of the Turkish 
     Government's request to be involved in one way or another in 
     the process of developing the common foreign and security 
     policy and welcomes Turkey's determination to contribute to 
     improving European capabilities within the framework of the 
     common European security and defence policy; considers that 
     any such contribution has to be preceded by a clearly stated 
     policy of respect for the territorial integrity of Member 
     States;
       17. Welcomes the start of negotiations on confidence-
     building measures agreed on 31 October 2000 by the foreign 
     ministers of both Turkey and Greece;
       18. Calls on the Turkish Government, in accordance with 
     Resolution 1250 of the UN Security Council, to contribute 
     towards the creation, without preconditions, of a climate 
     conducive to negotiations between the Greek and Turkish 
     Cypriot communities, with a view to reaching a negotiated, 
     comprehensive, just and lasting settlement which complies 
     with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the 
     recommendations of the UN General Assembly, as reaffirmed by 
     the European Council; hopes that this will be possible during 
     the fifth round of proximity

[[Page E2203]]

     talks which will begin on 10 November 2000 and that those 
     talks will result in bilateral negotiations, under the aegis 
     of the UN, which will enable substantial progress to be made;
       19. Calls on the Turkish Government to withdraw its 
     occupation forces from northern Cyprus;
       20. Calls on the Turkish Government, as it has proposed, to 
     improve its relations with all its neighbours in the Caucasus 
     within the framework of a Stability Pact for the region;
       21. Calls in this connection on the Turkish Government to 
     launch a dialogue with Armenia aimed in particular at re-
     establishing normal diplomatic and trade relations between 
     the two countries and lifting the current blockade;
       22. Calls on the Turkish Government, in cooperation with 
     the Commission, to pursue its efforts with a view to 
     enhancing the implementation of the pre-accession strategy as 
     regards the incorporation of the acquis communautaire, 
     notably by improving the situation in fields such as the 
     single market, agriculture, transport, the environment and 
     administrative organisation;
       23. Welcomes the Turkish Government's recent statement that 
     the reform process, which covers the amendments to the 
     Turkish Penal and Civil Codes, including parental and women's 
     rights, would be stepped up during the coming year;
       24. Calls on the Turkish Government to comply with previous 
     and future decisions of the European Court of Human Rights 
     and to consider the proposals made by the Council of Europe 
     with regard to the training of judges and police officers;
       25. Reminds Turkey also of the commitments it has given 
     within the Council of Europe and calls on it to transpose 
     Council of Europe instruments in particular so as to permit 
     more effective monitoring of the application of political 
     measures that are part of the accession partnership;
       26. Takes the view that Turkey does not currently meet all 
     the Copenhagen political criteria and reiterates its proposal 
     for the setting up of discussion forums, consisting of 
     eminent politicians from the European Union and Turkey as 
     well as representatives of civil society, in order to promote 
     political dialogue and help Turkey progress along the path 
     towards accession; welcomes the initiative taken by the 
     former President of Turkey, Mr. Demirel, to establish a 
     Europe-Turkey Foundation, which might also be involved in 
     those forums;
       27. Calls on the Commission to devise and implement 
     additional programmes in the field of education, given the 
     exceptionally high proportion of the population (50%) under 
     25, in order to help foster understanding of the basic 
     principles of the shared values of Europe;
       28. Calls on the Council and the Commission to find ways to 
     improve the effectiveness of MEDA Programmes for democracy in 
     Turkey with a view to strengthening civil society there, 
     consolidating the democratic system and supporting free and 
     independent media in that country;
       29. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to 
     the Commission, the Council, the governments and parliaments 
     of the Member States and to the Turkish Government and Grand 
     National Assembly.