Written question asked by Lord Patten (Conservative), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Howell of Guildford (Conservative) on Monday, 19 March 2012.

Turkey

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their current assessment of press freedom in Turkey.

Answer: The Government share the concerns expressed by the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European Commission over freedom of expression, including the arrests and lengthy detention without trial of a number of journalists in Turkey. The Minister for Europe, my right honourable friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) discussed these issues at a meeting with Egemen Bagis, the Turkish Minister for European Union Affairs, on 1 March 2012. The UK welcomes the recent release of four journalists from prison. We also welcome the Turkish Government's recent proposals on judicial reform as an important step towards improving freedom of expression, and are encouraged that further reforms are planned in the future. Along with our European Union partners, we will continue to press for further progress on this urgent issue and hope to see real and lasting developments being made.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 16238; 736 c149WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Turkey
Monday, 23 April 2012
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Press freedom Turkey
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk