92002E1246

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1246/02

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(30 April 2002)

Subject: Refusal to restore confiscated property to Assyrian Syrians from Tur Abdin

In 1984, the Kurds launched their armed struggle against the Turkish State. This civil war in south-eastern Turkey gradually developed into a ruthless war which severely affected civilians throughout the south-east region. Despite much provocation by the Turkish State, the Assyrian Syrians refused to take part in the hostilities on either side. This did not prevent the Turkish State from deporting Assyrian Syrians from a large number of their villages. The Turkish State reacted to their neutrality as if they were enemies of the state. The method used by the Turkish State was often to gather the villagers together violently at gunpoint and order them to leave the village within 24 hours. In a large number of Assyrian Syrian villages, the population was driven out and replaced with the State's own supporters.

The following are only two examples of 32 villages which received the same treatment. The villages of Sare (Turkish Sari) and Gaznag (Turkish Gevizagaci) were both emptied of their Assyrian Syrian population in 1996. Since then, the villagers have appealed to every conceivable authority in an attempt to recover their property and the village but to no avail. Recently, the villagers appealed to the Turkish President, to the same effect.

What steps will the Commission take to enable the Assyrian-Chaldean-Syrians to recover their confiscated villages?

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(4 June 2002)

In its Regular Report published in November 2001(1), the Commission noted that in several instances village guards, armed and paid by the state to defend the evacuated or abandoned villages, have occupied the houses of departed villagers and refuse to return them to the legitimate owners. There are between 45 000 and 90 000 village guards in the region.

The Accession partnership for Turkey includes a short term priority concerning the development of a comprehensive approach to reduce regional disparities, and in particular to improve the situation in the Southeast, with a view to enhancing economic, social and cultural opportunities for all citizens.

The Commission will monitor the full implementation of this priority with a view to guaranteeing full respect of basic rights including cultural rights and diversity of all Turkish citizens, irrespective of their origin.

(1) COM(2001) 700 final.