ISTANBUL - Claudia Roth, co-chairperson of the German Federal Parliament Greens Group, said on Friday that they attributed great importance to a democratic Turkey.
Executives of German Greens Group departed from Turkey after completing meetings.
Roth told a press conference prior to their departure that they had the opportunity of meeting government officials, representatives of non-governmental organizations and religious communities during their stay in Turkey.
''We attribute great importance to continuation of democratization process in Turkey in a stable way. Opening a EU perspective is very important for this. With this respect, we expect that a date would be set on December 17th for start of full membership negotiations with Turkey,'' Roth noted.
''There are concerns that any negative decision about Turkey in December may slow down the process. Particularly, our interlocutors of Kurdish origin say they sincerely support the process. They say they need strengthening of human rights, democratization and principles of rule of law. There are also concerns that any negative decision may strengthen forces which oppose to EU membership,'' Roth said.
It is true to say that Turkey's EU path passed via Diyarbakir. Recognition of Kurdish reality plays a key role, she said, adding that dialogue and peace were important conditions for this.
Roth said that giving cultural, social, economic and political rights to the people in the region was very important, and stated that, ''efforts should be exerted to fulfill the economic criteria as well as the political criteria. Turkey should exert efforts for rebuilding and formation of the structures and cultures that were destroyed.''
Recalling that she had been following Turkey for long years, Roth said, ''during this visit, I got the impression that important steps have been taken to put reforms into force.'' Meanwhile, Winfried Nachtwei, a parliamentarian in the German delegation, said that a German television channel claimed nearly three weeks ago that former Eastern German tanks had been used against during evacuation of villages in the southeast of Turkey. He said that during their observations in the region they did not find any clue proving that the tanks had been used.
Nachtwei said, ''we have discussed whether to send old German tanks to Turkey,'' and noted that the people of the southeastern Turkey had concerns that there would be insecure atmosphere in case the tanks were sold or granted.''
Roth in her part said, ''Turkey needs support in many areas but it absolutely does not need weapons or tanks.''
(AY-MS)