Doc. 8975
5 February 2001

Kurdish cultural heritage

Motion for a recommendation

presented by Mr Risari and others

      Considering that the cultural heritage is a valuable asset for the whole of humanity;

      Noting that ever since very early times the region now inhabited by the Kurds has housed a succession of different civilisations and cultures;

      Noting that the Kurdish people, one of the earliest peoples to inhabit the Middle East, is heir to the ancient Mesopotamian cultures and civilisations;

      Considering that dam-building in the south of the region is liable to flood a series of very ancient historic sites, thus depriving the region of its past and its historical references;

      Considering inter alia that the planned construction of the Ilisu (Hasenkeyf) dam would destroy an historic site which is very important not only in cultural but also in economic terms because of its value in terms of tourism;

      Alarmed by the damage to and destruction of a great many historic monuments, estimated at at least 500, in the Kurdish regions of Turkey;

      Noting that the Kurdish language and culture are threatened with extinction under a systematic policy of assimilation and prohibition of teaching of the Kurdish language and civilisation in Turkey,

      The Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers

1.       conduct a study of the state of historic monuments in the Kurdish regions in order to take steps to protect the sites and monuments coming under the "human heritage" heading;

2.       take the necessary steps to inventory the historic sites and monuments threatened with destruction and implement the requisite resources for their protection;

3.       request Turkey to consult UNESCO experts before initiating any dam-building work on historic sites;

4.       ask the Turkish government to cancel the planned construction of the Ilisu dam;

5.       request Turkey to authorise the teaching of the Kurdish language and culture in schools.

Signed : ¹

Risari, Italy, EPP/CD

Andreoli, San Marino, SOC

Arzilli, San Marino, EPP/CD

Berzins, Latvia, NR

Bonet Casas, Andorra, LDR

Carvalho, Portugal, UEL

Christodoulides, Cyprus, UEL

Churkin, Russia, UEL

Demetriou, Cyprus, EPP/CD

Dreyfus–Schmidt, France, SOC

Einarsson, Sweden, UEL

Eversdijk, Netherlands, EPP/CD

Hadjidemetriou, Cyprus, SOC

Jurgens, Netherlands, SOC

Kanelli, Greece, UEL

Kovalev S, Russia, LDR

Laakso, Finland, UEL

Mikaelsson, Sweden, UEL

Mitterand, France, SOC

Norvoll, Norway, SOC

Popescu, Ukraine, SOC

Rise, Norway, EPP/CD

Schreiner, France, EDG

Sinka, Latvia, EDG

Tudor, Romania, NR

Urbanczyk, Poland, SOC

Valk, Netherlands, SOC

Vermot-Mangold, Switzerland, SOC

Von Der Esch, Sweden, EPP/CD

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP/CD: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group