Doc. 9139

26 June 2001

Humanitarian situation of the Kurdish refugees and
displaced persons in south-eastern Turkey and northern Iraq

Recommendation 1377 (1998)

Reply from the Committee of Ministers

adopted at the 758^th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies (21 and 25 June 2001)

The Committee of Ministers has examined Recommendation 1377 (1998) of the Parliamentary Assembly on the humanitarian situation of the Kurdish refugees and displaced persons in south-eastern Turkey and northern Iraq with great attention.

The issues and actions mentioned in the text involve not only the member states of the Council of Europe but also non-member states and other international organisations. Moreover, the situation in the geographical area referred to in the Assembly's text has changed since the text’s adoption.

The Committee of Ministers, which wishes to reply to the Parliamentary Assembly in a constructive and non-discriminatory manner, has constantly reaffirmed its willingness to ensure that the Council of Europe plays an active and constructive role in consolidating democratic stability and restoring security and rule of law in South-East Europe, where the situation was a priority agenda item at the 108^th ministerial session (10-11 May 2001).

The Committee of Ministers has adopted numerous measures for a Council of Europe contribution to implementation of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe. A number of these suggested measures – about which the Committee of Ministers has regularly kept the Parliamentary Assembly informed - might be implemented in all the states of the region, including Turkey, in a wide range of fields such as education, culture, health and social welfare.

The European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity (North-South Centre) may also have a major role to play in implementing schemes to encourage intercultural dialogue and social development.

The Committee of Ministers is convinced that by implementing pragmatic, closely-targeted activities on the ground we can promote inter-community dialogue and gradually improve or restore (as appropriate) the conditions for optimum functioning of the democratic institutions in all the states of the region.