Parliamentary Assembly
Assembl�e parlementaire

The cultural situation of the Kurds

Doc. 10089
12 February 2004

Motion for a recommendation
presented by Lord Russell-Johnston and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1.         Considering that one of the Council of Europe prime objectives is the promotion of cultural diversity and tolerance.

2.         Noting that from very early times the regions now inhabited by the Kurds have housed a succession of different civilisations and cultures.

3.         Noting however that the Kurds are spread now well beyond their original regions.

4.         Alarmed by the damage to very many historic monuments and archaeological sites, in the Kurdish regions of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria.

5.         Noting that, despite recent authorisation for (private) Kurdish language courses in Turkey, the Kurdish languages(s) and culture are still threatened with extinction.

6.         Alarmed by the precarious situation of the media in Kurdish language (written and broadcast) despite recent advances in legislation and its implementation.

7.         Welcoming the prospects for improving the cultural situation of the Kurds opened by the end of dictatorship and repression in Iraq and by negotiations related to the application of Turkey to join the European Union.

8.         The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers: 

i.          conduct a study of the state of the cultural heritage in the Kurdish regions in co-operation with the countries concerned;

ii.          ascertain whether the policies and practice applying to Kurdish culture, education and the media are in line with the values and principles of the Council of Europe. 

Signed [1]:
Russell-Johnston, United Kingdom, LDR
Agudo, Spain, SOC
de Puig, Spain, SOC
Hooper, United Kingdom, EDG
Jarab, Czech Republic, LDR
Legendre, France, EPP/CD
McNamara, United Kingdom, SOC
O’Hara, United Kingdom, SOC
Prisacaru, Romania, SOC
Rivolta, Italy, EPP/CD
Txueka Isasti, Spain, EPP/CD

[1]

SOC
EPP
EDG
LDR
UEL
NR

Socialist Group
Group of the European People’s Party
European Democratic Group
Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group
Group of the Unified European Left
Not registered in a group