EU Political Affairs Counsellor in Diyarbakır

Firat News 13.4.2014 – EU’s First Counsellor of Political Affairs, Michael Miller, has visited the Human Rights Association (IHD) in Diyarbakır, where he was informed of rights violations in the region and the effects of the ongoing process of resolution. Branch chair Raci Bilici told Miller the process of negotiation and dialogue could only be sustained by providing the position of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan with a proper legal status.

The EU’s First Counsellor of Political Affairs, Michael Miller, and European Union Commission Office in Ankara representative Sema Kılıçer were welcomed at the IHD branch office in Diyarbakır by Raci Bilici, who expressed his pleasure at the visit and provided information regarding continuing human rights violations in the region. Michael Miller asked questions regarding prolonged pre-trial detention in cases such as the KCK trials, and the progress of the resolution process. Bilici said the judicial system had double standards, while the resolution process was moving slowly, adding that the conditions for negotiations had yet to be established. Bilici stressed the necessity of a legal framework being provided for PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan in order for the process of dialogue and negotiation to continue.