Turkey’s Parliament dissolution
O’Keeffe asked whether the EEC had discussed Turkey’s military takeover and how it would encourage a return to democracy. Lenihan said the Nine discussed the takeover and expressed concern about it, alongside Turkey’s longstanding political and economic problems and terrorist violence.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether the question of the military intervention and dissolution of Parliament in Turkey has been discussed at EEC level; and the steps being taken to encourage a return to a democratic system in that country.
Comment on this
Turkey was the subject of discussions among the Foreign Ministers of the nine member states of the European Community at a meeting on 15 September 1980 a few days after the recent assumption of executive and legislative power by the Turkish armed forces.
After their meeting the Nine expressed their concern about developments in Turkey, which included not only the military takeover but also the existence for some time previously of persistent, deepseated economic and political problems and mounting terrorist violence. They noted the assurances announced by the military authorities that they intend to proceed to the rapid re-establishment of democratic institutions, to respect human rights and to guarantee proper treatment for political leaders taken into custody. The Nine underlined their strong desire for these assurances to be fully and rapidly implemented.