LICE - European Union (EU) Commissioner for Enlargement Guenter Verheugen said on Tuesday that EU attributed great importance to the development of the Southeast (Anatolia).
Verheugen, currently in southeastern city of Diyarbakir, visited Abali Police Station of Lice Gendarmery post and later proceeded to Tuzla Village.
Verheugen visited the tents and huts of the villagers and answered the questions of the reporters.
''Violence is not a solution. It should absolutely be erased. EU attributes great importance to improvements in the Southeast. This is what we had mentioned long ago. There are two important political measures that should be taken. One of them is granting cultural and social rights to Kurdish people. We support education and broadcast in Kurdish from the very beginning,'' Verheugen said, adding that, ''several steps have been taken in this respect. However, we can only say this is a starting. By all means this is pleasing.''
Verheugen said the second was meeting economic and social needs of the people living in Southeastern Anatolia. He said, ''we always encourage the government to make a firm step. We request what is necessary to be done to offset imbalances in the region and to promote living conditions. Thus, inhabitants of the regions should be encouraged to return to their villages and their former places. Living in such a village is better than living in huts in big cities. I think people should be advocated to build their own houses again.''
Verheugen said political, economic, social and cultural problems are intermingled with each other, pointing out that solution of social and economic problems of the region was impossible if the stability is not restored.
Verheugen said, ''political stability can be assured by advocating modernization and democratization process in Turkey. This process have started years ago. I think that European perspective is one of the most important encouragement in this respect.''
-''THERE IS A GREAT EXPECTATION AND HOPE''
Asked about willingness of a majority of Turkish people, particularly those in the Southeast, to be a member of the EU, Verheugen said, ''it is pleasant that Turkish people, particularly those living in the Southeast, find the EU attractive. However, seeing this also frightened me. I felt a psychological burden on me after meeting with the representatives of NGOs in Diyarbakir. I saw that people have great expectations. I am not sure whether we will be able to meet such great expectations.''
-ATTACK IN DIYARBAKIR-
Asked about the armed attack on a police checkpoint in Diyarbakir killing a police officer and a guard, Verheugen said, ''I learned about it this morning. I can not make a clear comment before knowing the details. However, I would like to reiterate once again that violence can not be a solution. This attack also shows that violence have not overcome in the region. Of course there may be some extremists in the society. We wish those extremists not to hinder peace process.''
Replying to a question, Verheugen said the inadequacies he has seen in the village would not have a negative impact on the report. He said, ''poverty of those people will in no way affect the report. Evacuation of the village took place as a result of some political decisions. The outcome is not pleasing.''
Verheugen said it was important for him to visit the region, stressing that he is actually on a fact-finding mission.
(AY-ULG) 07.09.2004