UK's relations with Turkey inquiry

Published 21 September 2017.

The government's response sets out its engagement with Turkey and its existing programmes across the report's recommendations, while stating that its "strong relationship with Turkey is vital" and that human rights concerns are raised within it.

• On the state of emergency and post-coup measures, the government says Turkey has "a right and responsibility to act" against suspected perpetrators, but that measures should be "proportionate, justified and in line with democratic principles". It says it "will continue to engage" and monitor the situation closely.
• On the recommendation to designate Turkey a Human Rights Priority Country, the response does not make the designation. It says the decision rests on the human rights situation, the trajectory of change and the extent of UK work, and that it "will continue to monitor" the situation.
• On the PKK peace process, the government says it will "continue to encourage efforts" to resolve the Kurdish issue, but "it is not for us to prescribe how to achieve success". It adds that "PKK violence must end" for a peace process to resume.
• On Syria safe zones, it says their "practicalities and implications" would need to be "considered very carefully and in close consultation with partners". On the YPG, it is "concerned" about reported links with the PKK and "urge[s]" the YPG and PYD to distance themselves from it.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error