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Progressives to initiate a debate on Turkey in the EP

Date

21 Nov 2016

Sections

Global Europe

Turkish police blocked PES delegation for visiting Demirtaş in Prison

 

The Turkish authorities prevented a PES delegation in Turkey to visit opposition leader Selahattin Demirtaş in prison, in the North-Western town of Edirne. The delegation led by PES president Sergei Stanishev was held a press-conference in the middle of the road outside the prison. The Turkish police and the gendarmerie tried to prevent any contact between the delegation and the media gathered around the prison, but then allowed the improvised press point to take place.

PES president Sergei Stanishev, who is also a member of the European Parliament announced: "In the upcoming days, we will have a debate in the European Parliament on the future of EU-Turkey access negotiations. We should discuss the limited scope for Turkey’s accession in the light of its dramatic violations of human rights and in the light of the detentions of legally elected representatives of the Turkish people in the Turkish Parliament".

MEPs, national MPs and other officials from Austria, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden are with the PES delegation to Turkey. 

After the attempt to visit the prison in Edirne, the delegation will visit the editorial offices of the daily Cumhuriyet in Istanbul to show solidarity for the repression it has suffered for its courageous, independent journalism.

Members of PES Delegation to Turkey (as of 2 pm 18.11.2016)

 

Sergei Stanishev

President

PES

Hannes Weninger

Member of parliament

SPO, Austria

Josette Durrieu

Member of Senate

France

Arne Lietz

Member of the European Parliament

SPD, Germany

Pia Locatelli

Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Foreign Affair Commission, Italian Parliament

PSI, Italy

 

Marietta TIdei

Member of parliament

PD, Italy

Marie Granlund

Member of Parliament, Social democratic
Group leader, committee on EU affairs

SAP, Sweden

Jens Orbach

Former Minister of Integration
Secretary General of Olof Palme Center

SAP, Sweden

Johan Buser

Member of Parliament, Social democratic

SAP, Sweden

Marie Rose Koro

Consular Advisor, Turkey
State secretary for the Francophonie

PS, France

 

Giacomo Filibeck

Deputy Secretary General, PES

Italy

 

Check photos of the delegation in Turkey here

Party of European Socialists (PES)
http://www.pes.eu/