Duff to visit Turkey Quake area

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 3rd Dec 1999

Eastern England's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Andrew Duff is part of a high-level European Union delegation to Turkey from 6-10 December.

The visit is part of the ongoing discussion between Europe and Turkey about the latters membership of the Union.

As well as meeting with Turkish ministers, Mr Duff will also be visiting some of the areas most badly hit by the recent earthquakes. Ahead of his visit Mr Duff said:

"This will be an opportunity to see at first hand the problem Turkey faces in the aftermath of the two recent earthquakes. I will be keen to see what effect the EUs emergency assistance, including the work of charities from Eastern England, have had in helping the people of Turkey though this terrible ordeal.

"But our main purpose is to reinforce Turkeys drive to democracy. I and my colleague from the Parliament, M. Daniel Cohn-Bendit MEP, will be urging radical political reform in Turkey to ensure a full respect for human and minority rights. We will also be reviewing Turkeys attitude to the Cyprus question."