3 December 2001

1. „EU to study Turkish compromise over rapid reaction force”, EU officials will Tuesday study a deal hammered out by Ankara, Washington and London that addresses Turkey's concerns over the European Union's planned military force, diplomats said Monday.

2. “Iraqi Kurdish chief comes out in support of dialogue after Saddam's call”, an Iraqi Kurdish leader has come out in support of a peaceful settlement between Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq and Baghdad after a call for dialogue from President Saddam Hussein.

3. “Powell to Seek Cyprus-Turkey Accord”, Secretary of State Colin Powell will try to accelerate efforts to reach a political settlement in Cyprus on his visit to Turkey next week.

4. „Turks believe Cyprus more important than EU membership”, ANAR public opinion poll revealed that Turks believe that the Cyprus issue is more important than Turkey's full membership to the European Union (EU).

5. „Raid stamped by National Security Council”, almost all of the Kurdish, democrat and leftist organizations and magazines in Istanbul were busted by police ordered by State Security Court. It is striking that the raids with a number of detentions were made just after the meeting of National Security Council.

6. „Turk army fears Kurd rebels gaining political clout”, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Thursday that the powerful military feared Kurdish separatists were gaining political ground despite their losses on the battlefield. Yilmaz said Turkey's generals had expressed concerns at this week's National Security Council meeting that Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas enjoyed political support in the country's impoverished southeast.


1. – AFP – „EU to study Turkish compromise over rapid reaction force”:

BRUSSELS

EU officials will Tuesday study a deal hammered out by Ankara, Washington and London that addresses Turkey's concerns over the European Union's planned military force, diplomats said Monday.

"We still don't have details about this compromise," one diplomat said, a day after Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said Turkey's expectations on EU-NATO relations now were "largely satisfied." Studying the compromise in Brussels will be the EU political and security committee, known by its French acronym COPS, which brings together ambassadors from the 15 EU member states. EU and NATO foreign ministers, including Turkey's Ismail Cem, will be meeting in Brussels later in the week, on the sidelines of a semi-annual NATO ministerial meeting.

If all the EU member states, particularly Greece, accept the compromise, it could clear the way for the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization to sign a long-awaited formal cooperation agreement. Such a pact would give the EU's planned 60,000-man rapid reaction force access to NATO assets, such as its fleet of AWACS radar planes, and to the alliance's unrivaled ability to plan complex military operations. Turkey, a key NATO member and EU candidate country, opposed any EU-NATO agreement that might deny it a voice in any potential EU deployment in hotspots close to its borders and interests.

Britain had been trying for months to find a way to overcome the deadlock. The United States has been involved as well, as it supports the planned EU military force as a way to boost the capabilities of NATO's European partners. According to Turkish press reports, the EU has promised in writing that the rapid reaction force would not intervene in conflicts between two NATO allies -- a reference to Turkish-Greek disputes over Cyprus and the Agean Sea. The EU rapid reaction force -- using troops and equipment from all the EU member states -- is being designed to undertake Balkan-style peacekeeping and humanitarian missions from 2003.

It is expected to be declared partly operational at a summit of EU heads of state and government in Brussels on December 14-15. Twelve of the 15 EU member states also belong to NATO.


2. – AFP – “Iraqi Kurdish chief comes out in support of dialogue after Saddam's call”:

DIYARBAKIR

An Iraqi Kurdish leader has come out in support of a peaceful settlement between Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq and Baghdad after a call for dialogue from President Saddam Hussein. "We are in favour of peace and do not want war," said Massood Barzani, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), in a speech broadcast late Thursday on his party's TV channel, which can be viewed from southeast Turkey."We are for resolving problems through dialogue and peace," he added.

Barzani's statement followed an offer earlier this week from Saddam for dialogue with the Kurds of northern Iraq, only two weeks after the Iraqi president had threatened them with use of force. However, Barzani warned that the KDP would retaliate if attacked. "If there is a threat against us, we are ready to face it," he said. Iraqi Kurdistan rose up against Baghdad in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait, leaving the three provinces of Arbil, Suleimaniyeh and Dahuk outside Baghdad's reach.

The KDP today controls an area along the Turkish border, while the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of Jalal Talabani administers areas close to the Iranian border. Barzani gave an assurance that his faction was not seeking to establish an independent Kurdish state in its mountainous enclave which is protected by a Western security umbrella. "We are not and will never pursue an independent Kurdish state," the KDP leader said. "Our aim is a federation within a democratic Iraq in which we have our rights. This would be more beneficial both to us and the region." Turkey, whose southeastern region borders northern Iraq, opposes an independent Kurdish state in the region, fearing that such a move would spur ethnic separatism among Turkish Kurds. The Ankara government has close ties with the the KDP and cooperates with the group in its frequent cross-border operations against Turkish Kurdish rebels sheltering in northern Iraq.


3. – AP – “Powell to Seek Cyprus-Turkey Accord”:

WASHINGTON

Secretary of State Colin Powell will try to accelerate efforts to reach a political settlement in Cyprus on his visit to Turkey next week.

The biggest issue on Powell's agenda in Ankara next Tuesday and Wednesday is the U.S.-led counterterrorism campaign in Afghanistan and potential follow-up American moves afterward.

President Bush indicated this week that once the al-Qaida network is routed he may shift the campaign to Iraq. That could mean seeking support from Turkey again.

At the same time, though, Powell will discuss Cyprus with Turkish officials, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday.

Next Friday, the leaders of Cyprus' Greek and Turkish communities will hold their first face-to-face talks in four years.

The talks will be held at the official residence of the U.N. chief of mission on the demarcation line that has divided the capital of Nicosia and the island since the Turkish invasion of 1974.

The agreement to hold direct talks is a breakthrough in efforts to resolve the Cyprus dispute. Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash have only negotiated through U.N. intermediaries since they last met in Switzerland in 1997.

Since the invasion, Cyprus has been divided into a Turkish-occupied north and a Greek Cypriot-controlled south. Turkey maintains 35,000 troops in north Cyprus and is the only country to recognize the north as a breakaway state.

``We support the talks that are coming up between the communities in Cyprus, hosted by the U.N. And we certainly look for efforts that can accelerate the momentum in those discussions,'' Boucher said.


4. – Turkish Daily News – „Turks believe Cyprus more important than EU membership”:

ANAR public opinion poll revealed that Turks believe that the Cyprus issue is more important than Turkey's full membership to the European Union (EU).

According to the ANAR poll surveying Turkish people's point of view on various issues in November, 62 percent of those who were surveyed believed that Turkey should prefer Cyprus, if it has to make a choice between a solution on Cyprus or EU full membership. Only 32 percent of those who participated in the poll believed that EU full membership is more important than Cyprus.

The poll revealed that 38 percent of Turks thought that the EU is right in its criticisms against Turkey while 48 percent believed that it is wrong.

The poll was conducted by the ANAR polling company through the direct interview method with 1,470 people between Nov. 27 and 29 in Istanbul, Ankara, Adana, Diyarbakir, Samsun and Erzurum.

According to the poll, 49 percent of those who were surveyed believed that two different independent states on the island is the most suitable solution in Cyprus while 29 percent thought federation will be the best solution. Eight percent of those who participated in the poll believed that Turkey should annex Cyprus.

The poll revealed that 49 percent of Turkey believed that Turkey's policy regarding the Cyprus issue is right while 31 percent of those who were surveyed thought Turkey is wrong.

Those who view Rauf Denktas, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, as successful in his Cyprus policy reached 62 percent. But 21 percent of those who participated in the poll thought he is unsuccessful.

Political disenchantment continued in November

ANAR poll revealed that vote capacity of political parties having seats in Parliament did not change during November. According to the poll, Justice and Development Party (AKP) is the first party with 21 percent vote capacity. Main opposition Tansu Ciller led True Path Party (DYP) maintained its second position with 7.5 percent vote capacity in November.

Junior coalition party Motherland Party (ANAP) is having the fourth biggest vote capacity with 5.5 percent and coalition's other partner, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has 5.3 percent vote capacity, the poll revealed.

According to ANAR, Republican People's Party (CHP) having no seats in Parliament as it failed to pass the 10 percent national threshold in the 1999 elections has 6.9 percent vote capacity.

The poll revealed that Turkish people have lost confidence and interest in politics and politicians. Some 37 percent of those who were surveyed stated that they will not vote for any of the existing political parties.

Only 13 percent of those who participated in the poll believed that government's performance during November was successful while 76 percent of those thought government was unsuccessful in November.

42 percent of Turks say snap polls is the solution

The majority of Turks who have been torn due to political instability and the one year old economic crisis, believed that snap polls will be the solution.

ANAR poll revealed that 42 percent of Turks thought that snap polls will be the most suitable solution for current problems.

Some 12 percent of those who were surveyed believed that government should go on while 20 percent of those said a brand-new government should be formed from the present Parliament.

The economic crisis maintained its position as the top issue of Turkish people in November.

The war in Afghanistan and decrease of foreign currency were the most important issues of people's agenda in November, the poll revealed.

The Civil Code amendment was also among the issues that Turkish people were highly interested in during the last month.


5. – Kurdish Observer – „Raid stamped by National Security Council”:

Almost all of the Kurdish, democrat and leftist organizations and magazines in Istanbul were busted by police ordered by State Security Court. It is striking that the raids with a number of detentions were made just after the meeting of National Security Council.

ISTANBUL

Cultural center and leftist magazines were raided by police ordered by State Security Courts (DGM). The raids were executed showing the “civil disobedience” actions by PKK as justification. A number of people including the chairman of Kurdish Institute and owner of the magazine “Ozgur Halk-Free People” were detained.

Police launched an “operation” on the Kurdish, leftist and democratic organizations and magazines which are reported to be on the agenda of National Security Council (MGK). It is striking that the raids were made just after the meeting of MGK on Tuesday where PKK and HADEP were discussed. The organizations and magazines busted are as follows: newspapers Yedinci Gundem and Devrimci Demokrasi; magazines Azadiye Welat, Ozgur Halk, Ozgur Genclik, Rewsen and Ozgur Kadinin Sesi Kizilbayrak and Yasamda Atilim; Dicle Women’s Cultural Center, Kurdish Institution, Mem Basin Yayin, Aram Publications, Gelincik News Agency, Mesopotamia Cultural Center, Zend Science and Culture Inc., Anadolu Cultural Center, Youth Cultural Center, Tohum Cultural Center, Yuzcicek Acsin Cultural Center. A number of people were detained during the raids ordered by Istanbul DGM.

Raids one after another

In the premises of newspaper Yedinci Gundem in Taksim police forces searched the premises and detained Hakan Kemaloglu, responsible manager, and confiscated some documents. At the same hours police also raided on the Kurdish Institute. They made a search, then detained its chairman Hasan Kaya.

And in magazine Ozgur Halk all archives, hard disks and documents were confiscated. Owner Gulcan Kaya was detained.

Police forces searched the premises of Mesopotamia Cultural Center for two hours. They confiscated some books and magazines, and took Emin Konar, a visitor, and Gullu Ozalp, player, under detention.

Dicle Women’s Cultural Center was searched under the order of DGM. Police forces said to the workers “You are ordered by Imrali. You are governed from there,” and left the premises without taking anybody under detention but they did confiscated some books. The Center had to cancel its activity because of the raid.

On the other hand, Tevhide Akinca, manager of newspaper Devrimci Demokrasi and reporters Erdal Guler, Ertan Ozturk and Fekir Dogan; in Atilim newspaper Ulas Beker, Huseyin Aycicek and Mehmet whose surname could not be learned; and in Kizilbayrak a person whose name could not be learned were detained.

Justification is “civil disobedience”

The rule of the DGM is as follows: “The court decided that Mem Publishing, Ozgur Halk, Ozgur Kadinin Sesi, the Kurdish Institute, Zend Science and Culture Inc., Mesopotamia Cultural Center, Dicle Women’s Cultural Center, newspaper Gundem, magazine Jiyana Rewsen, Youth Cultural Center, Anadolu Cultural Center to be searched on the grounds that after Ocalan was captured in Kenya and delivered to our country, militants made actions they called self-expression (civil disobedience) contrary to the laws, and they opposed to laws by violent methods, and they are lead by the above-mentioned institutions and organizations which are active under the order of terrorist PKK organization and are calling on the sympathizers to make serhildan [popular uprising-intifada] (declaration of identity, unlawful demonstration, march, closing shutters, boycott, strike, collecting signatures etc.) actions.”

“Top secret” report to governors

The raids were executed just after a “ top secret” report of three pages sent by the Ministry of Interior Affairs to the governors of 81 provinces. In the MGK meeting on November 27, Tuesday, declaration of identity actions in Kurdistan and Turkey and HADEP being the first party in Kurdistan, and which measures to be taken were discussed. The report signed by Sebati Buyuran, Deputy Under Secretary of the Ministry, claimed that PKK is in attempt to organize a “Serhildan Party”. The report asserted that there is a special camp in South Kurdistan in order to develop “political serhildan” actions and there militants are trained on “civil obedience”. The Ministry stated that for the cadres students were selected and the subjects are Palestinian-type street actions and mass movements.

The report emphasized that in case that PKK President Abdullah Ocalan was executed organization’s militants would have to be able to make violent actions. The report included the following claims: “One of the two people’s initiative to be formed will be illegal and the other legal. Democratic People’s Initiative and Democratic Units and Committees will continue their activities in order to establish a “Serhildan Party”.”

HADEP was raided too

Houses of HADEP’s district chairmen and members in Araban and Yavuzeli districts of Antep province were raided. 10 people were detained on the grounds that they have “illegal publications and weapons.”

Gendarme forces raided on the houses of Huseyin Yagci and Mehmet Karatas, Araban and Yavuzeli district chairmen respectively, board members Ibrahim Karatas, Siho Coban, Cuma Yavuzkurt, Kazim Kilinc, Haci Atas, Battal Kocyigit, Omer Kilic and Bekir Sakar. It has been reported that the houses were raided on the grounds that there are “weapons and organizational documents and illegal publications”. Huseyin Yagci, Mehmet and Ibrahim Karatas, Siho Coban, Cuma Yavuzkurt, Kazim Kilinc, Haci Atas, Battal Kocyigit, Omer Kilic and Bekir Sakar were taken under custody.

On the other hand Sabri Korsu, Batman Chairman of Youth Wings who was detained the other day was arrested and put into prison.

Iskenderun district premises were busted by police forces as well. Police searched the premises and confiscated some magazines they said “illegal”.


6. – Reuters – „Turk army fears Kurd rebels gaining political clout”:

ANKARA

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz said on Thursday that the powerful military feared Kurdish separatists were gaining political ground despite their losses on the battlefield. Yilmaz said Turkey's generals had expressed concerns at this week's National Security Council meeting that Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas enjoyed political support in the country's impoverished southeast.

"It's not just within military circles, there are these sorts of concerns in the state's different ranks," Yilmaz told reporters in remarks broadcast live on NTV television. "A state policy on this issue has not yet been made," he added. The European Union, which Turkey aspires to join, has urged Turkey to expand civil liberties for the country's 12 million Kurds, who are not officially recognised as a minority group.

Parliament last month ratified sweeping amendments to the constitution, drawn up under military rule, in a bid to meet EU standards and lifted a ban on Kurdish-language broadcasting. The PKK began a violent campaign for self-rule in Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast in 1984, but fighting, which claimed more than 30,000 lives, has dropped off sharply since PKK commander Abdullah Ocalan was captured in 1999.

Ocalan, on death row for treason, has called on his followers to withdraw from Turkey and seek cultural rights through political means. The military estimates between 400 and 500 PKK fighters remain active in the southeast's rugged mountains. Turkish media reports have recently said the military, which has staged three coups since 1960, is worried that the People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Turkey's sole legal pro-Kurdish party, dominates local politics in the southeast.

HADEP won several local offices in the southeast in 1999 elections but fell short of a 10 percent threshold for seats in parliament. "We are of the opinion that whichever party offers solutions will find support in the east and southeast," HADEP leader Murat Bozlak was quoted as saying on Thursday by the state-run Anatolian news agency. Bozlak said HADEP, which faces possible closure for its alleged ties to the PKK, was not just a Kurdish party. "HADEP is not just the party of one ethnic group or one region," Bozlak said. "It is not a separatist party...It's wrong to project HADEP as a party that unsettles the army."