Rep. Tom Lantos Praises Turkish Parliament for Reforms
U.S. State Department also praises the development
The Turkish Times, August 5, 2002 - Congressional Human Rights Caucus Co-Chair Tom Lantos (D-Cal) praised the Turkish parliament on August 5 for a wide-ranging democratization reform package passed over the weekend. Calling enactment of the package "a victory for Turkish democracy," Lantos labeled reforms allowing for increased use of the Kurdish language "particularly path-breaking" and "courageous." He called upon the European Union to demonstrate its appreciation for the importance of the Turkish parliament's action by "setting the earliest possible date for opening membership accession talks with Turkey at its December summit."

The full text of the state follows: "I wish to congratulate the Turkish parliament for passing a package of important democratization reforms this weekend. Reforms that legalize Kurdish-language radio and TV and private-school instruction in the Kurdish language are particularly path-breaking and represent a courageous step toward genuine pluralism in Turkey. This is a victory for Turkish democracy and -- for those like myself who have long condemned separatist terrorism and believed that the Kurdish problem could be solved within the framework of Turkish democracy -- a most gratifying development.

The reform package also loosened restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and association -- facilitating international contacts for Turkish NGOs -- and largely abolished the death penalty. In all, with this action, Turkey makes great progress toward achieving the highest levels of contemporary civilization, as urged by Turkey's late founding father, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

This dramatic development imposes responsibility on several parties. I call on Turkish leaders to implement the reforms fairly and, following elections November 3, to continue the process of democratic reform. I call on Kurdish-rights activists in Turkey to welcome the new laws as a positive step and as further proof that reform is achievable only by peaceful means. And I call on the European Union to demonstrate its appreciation for the importance of this action by setting the earliest possible date for opening membership accession talks with Turkey at its December summit.

Tom Lantos (D-Cal), Co-Chair
Congressional Human Rights Caucus"

U.S. State Department also positive
The U.S. State Department also expressed its satisfaction with the passing of new reform laws by the Turkish Parliament. Philip T. Reeker , Deputy Spokesman of the department, made the following statement on August 5, 2002:

"We welcome the Turkish Parliament's decision on August 2 and 3 to vote in favor of landmark legislation abolishing the death penalty, and granting television, radio broadcasting and educational rights in Kurdish and other regional dialects. We believe that these reforms will increase Turkey's chances of joining the European Union that the U.S. strongly supports.

We are encouraged by these developments and consider the latest reform package, which reflects a commitment to meet Copenhagen criteria requirements for EU membership, a major step forward in Turkey's bid to join the European Union. Moreover, we hope that the new laws will create positive momentum for further comprehensive reforms that the citizens of Turkey have made clear they want and expect.

The United States supports the aspirations of the citizens of Turkey to see this and other reforms implemented fully and efficiently by its leaders. "