The federal government and in particular the foreign minister should use every opportunity vis-à-vis official representatives of Turkey to insist on an end to the violent attacks on Kurds and the observance of human rights, the motion said.Despite the motion being defeated, the ÖVP, SPÖ, NEOS and Greens agreed in the committee on a joint motion for a resolution. The majority of the MPs voted in favour of the resolution and emphasised the need to take a stand against the human rights violations and offensives by Turkey that violate international law, especially in northern Syria. The resolution will now be passed on to the Federal Council for further consideration. Austria should work to ensure Turkey protects the civilian population, including the Kurdish population, and to protect fundamental and human rights in northern Syria and northern Iraq. The federal government should continue to show commitment to humanitarian support for the civilian population in Syria, Iraq and Turkey, the resolution concludes. “When will you speak out against the Turkish government, Mr Minister?” asked SPÖ MP Katharina Kucharowits to Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg during the parliamentary session. “Turkey under President [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan is systematically taking action against the Kurdish population in northern Syria to oust them from the region. It is necessary to take a stand against this.” Reinhold Lopatka of the ÖVP argued that the lack of status of more than 45 million Kurds led to wars and crises in the region. Stating that both Turkey and Iran persecute the Kurdish people, Lopatka said, “The suffering of the Kurdish people must end. The EU, especially Austria, should put pressure not only on Turkey and Iran, but also on Syria and Iraq, and ensure that the Kurdish people are protected.”