26 September 2001

1. "Turkey adopts reform paving way for media use of Kurdish language", Turkish lawmakers have adopted a constitutional amendment which could allow the country's Kurds to use their mother tongue in broadcasting and publication, a thorny issue between EU-hopeful Ankara and Brussels, officials said Wednesday.

2. "Dissident Turkish legislator quits premier's party", Sema Piskinsut, a dissident Turkish deputy resigned Wednesday from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP) in protest at what she described as its role in a severe economic crisis and deviation from declared principles.

3. "A historical case, a historical mission", stressing on the historical importance of the Ocalan case in EHRC on September 28 for the development of peace and democracy, Osman Ocalan, member of PKK Council of Leaders called on the Kurdish people and the Turkish administrators to approach it with a similar consciousness and action.

4. "European Court of Human Rights raps Turkey over lengthy trials", the European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday upheld the complaints of 13 alleged members of an illegal armed organization that they had been subjected to excessively long trials -- a number of which dragged on for more than 15 years.

5. "Europe ist not interested", columnist Cuneyt Arcayurek comments on the recent incidents and the decision on terrorism adopted by the European countries.

6. "Ankara wants no U.S. WMD in Turkish air space", Turkey has obtained a commitment from the United States that the Pentagon will not transport any nonconventional weapons through Turkish air space in any military offensive against Saudi billionaire Osama Bin Laden.


1. - AFP - "Turkey adopts reform paving way for media use of Kurdish language":

ANKARA

Turkish lawmakers have adopted a constitutional amendment which could allow the country's Kurds to use their mother tongue in broadcasting and publication, a thorny issue between EU-hopeful Ankara and Brussels, officials said Wednesday.

The article -- part of a reform package to help Turkey catch up with EU norms -- lifts a ban on using forbidden languages in the expression and dissemination of thought, but nonetheless introduces some restrictions. It stipulates that the right to use any language can be restricted in order to "protect national security, public order and safety, the fundamental principles of the Republic, and the indivisible unity of the state and nation." Legally, the Kurdish language is banned in Turkey, but authorities have long tolerated a series of magazines and music cassettes in Kurdish.

The European Union, which granted Turkey candidate status in December 1999, has told the aspirant that it needs to improve its human rights record, including cultural rights for its Kurdish population, before accession talks. But Turkey resisted the reform for a long time, fearing that such a move would fan Kurdish separatism and lead to the break-up of the country. The article on language use was approved by 397 legislators in the 550-seat house in a session late Tuesday, while 28 deputies voted against it. It will come into force when legislators approve the entire reform package in a final vote.

Other reforms in the 37-article package include the abolition of capital punishment except in times of war and for crimes of terrorism, a provision designed to exclude condemned Kurdish rebel chief Abdullah Ocalan, who is on a death row for separatism. It also makes it more difficult to ban political parties and adds more civilian members to the country's top policy-making body, the military-dominated National Security Council.

The government is aiming to adopt the reforms before the European Commission -- the EU's executive arm -- wraps up an annual report on Turkey's progress towards EU membership in November.


2. - AFP - "Dissident Turkish legislator quits premier's party":

ANKARA

A dissident Turkish deputy resigned Wednesday from Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit's Democratic Left Party (DSP) in protest at what she described as its role in a severe economic crisis and deviation from declared principles.

"I am resigning from the DSP," Sema Piskinsut, a former head of the parliamentary human rights commission, told a news conference here. "I cannot be an accomplice to the crimes committed against the public." Piskinsut, 49, charged that the DSP had "moved away from its party programme, estranged itself to the public and voters, and in fact reached a stage where it was deceiving them."

"I have come to a point where it has become fruitless to serve in the DSP and defend the party programme against Ecevit", the DSP chairman, Piskinsut said. She also blasted the party for having a major responsibility as the senior partner in the ruling coalition in two severe financial crises in November 2000 and February this year, which have wreaked havoc on the fragile Turkish economy.

Piskinsut has long criticized Ecevit and his management of the DSP, which analysts describe as one of the least democratic of all Turkish political parties with no intra-party opposition. In April, she challenged Ecevit's chairmanship at a party congress, amid physical obstruction from the prime minister's supporters. Ecevit won the race in a landslide victory.

Piskinsut won significant respect and praise during her three-year term as the head of the human rights commission with her daring investigations and midnight raids on police stations and prisons.


3. - Kurdish Observer - "A historical case, a historical mission":

Stressing on the historical importance of the Ocalan case in EHRC on September 28 for the development of peace and democracy, Osman Ocalan, member of PKK Council of Leaders called on the Kurdish people and the Turkish administrators to approach it with a similar consciousness and action.

Underscoring that the case in European Human Rights Court (EHRC) on September 28 will develop on the line of defending peace and democracy, Osman Ocalan, member of PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) Council of Leaders, called on the Kurdish people to raise the struggle, and Turkish administrators to approach the opportunity for solution with common sense.

As the date of the Ocalan case in EHRC comes close, participated by telephone in the "Gundem" (Agenda) program on MEDYA TV with writers of our newspaper Irfan Cure and I. Metin Aycicek as studio guests on the program, Osman Ocalan made statement on the subject. Ocalan called attention to the meaning and importance of the EHRC case being held at a point in time at which a world war is on the agenda.

Pointing out that the case would develop as a defence of peace and democracy, Ocalan continued to say the following: "Defence statement of our Party Leadership is a manifest for peace and democracy. In this case struggle of our people for peace and democracy will be brought up. The answer of us, our people and all democratic forces will be put forth in this case. The case will be a platform on which the third line, that is the line for peace and democracy is attributed to all humanity."

Call to the Kurdish people

The Kurdish leader called on all Kurds living in Turkey and abroad and their fellow peoples to raise the struggle for peace and democracy. Ocalan continued to say the following: "The history gave us a heavy but honorful mission. The Kurdish people should display the role of our leadership in EHRC. They should raise voice without any violence. They should go out day and night. If this is not given permission, they should develop their activities without exceeding the democratic limits. Kurdish youth in particular will be affected by a possible war. Our approach to the case in EHRC is like this."

"God forbid!"

Calling out to the Turkish administrators, Ocalan said "Do not mention the word 'war', if you are nationalists, you will not enter into the war." Ocalan emphasized that the hand held out for peace and democracy by PKK President should be grabbed by the Turkish rulers, adding, "they say that we will execute the capital punishment if we have the opportunity. you should not forget that if you execute, there will be unbelievable things occur. God forbid, we do not want even think about it."

Interest of Turkey

Warning insistently that Turkey should not provoke and offend the Kurdish people in the person of PKK President, Ocalan had to say the following: "Our call to all administrators of Turkey, democratic groups, human rights associations and most ordinary citizens. We say: Come and we will make the Turkey a peaceful, a democratic country. We do not want condemn the Turkey, we will show its faults. And Turkey in turn should not attempt to condemn us. If exist, it should also show our faults. Let's make effort together. It is in the interest of Turkey."

Freedom for Ocalan

Osman Ocalan added that Turkey should take steps towards freedom of Abdullah Ocalan for the sake of interest and future of the state and peoples.


4. - AFP - "European Court of Human Rights raps Turkey over lengthy trials":

STRASBOURG

The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday upheld the complaints of 13 alleged members of an illegal armed organization that they had been subjected to excessively long trials -- a number of which dragged on for more than 15 years.

The court, which heard the complaints of Turkish citizens accused of belonging to the armed organization Dev-Yol (Revolutionary Way), ruled unanimously that Turkey had violated Article 6-1 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which requires a fair trial within a reasonable time.

In addition, the court ruled that in 11 cases out of 13, the Martial Law Court in Ankara had not been independent and impartial in its judgments, constituting a violation of another clause of Article 661.

The plaintiffs received between 20,000 to 115,000 French francs (3,000 to 17,500 euros, 2,800 to 15,700 dollars) in punitive damages and expenses.


5. - Cumhuriyet - "Europe ist not interested":

Columnist Cuneyt Arcayurek comments on the recent incidents and the decision on terrorism adopted by the European countries. A summary of hiscolumn is as follows:

During these days when we thought Turkey would be an indispensable asset for the West since she had long suffered the pains of terrorism, theTurkish press mentioned the EU decision regarding terrorism only once and the official circles did not even touched upon it. Where will Turkey take her place when a new world is being constructed?

The leaders of the EU members did not include Turkey into a plan for combatting terrorism which even covered the candidate countries. It is clear that the EU does not seeTurkey as one of its own since the membership negotiation process has notbegun. The second reason is more interesting, which shows that it does notcare for the facts we have been trying to explain. It does not think of benefitting from the experiences of Turkey who has fought against terrorism for years.

The EU has other intentions. It is trying to put more obstacles in the way of giving out visas which concerns millions of Turks. When we recalled that they had promised to deal equally with other members they decided that we could take place in the plan for tackling terrorism. At present it is not clear how the EU will deal with the extensions of the PKK terrorist organization.

For example, Germany began waging a war against the PKK years ago. However, it stopped this fight with the PKK which continued its operations through various associations and federations. The reason was that the activities of the PKK damaged the security of the German society and they had given permission to these organizations to work as long as they did not disturb the German society. Similar attitudes were adopted by other EU countries such as Sweden and Holland.

The EU decision calls for the preparation of a joint list for terrorist organizations. In fact, many European countries who are banning the activities of the PKK or the religious terror groups, are providing opportunities for the free activities of their offsprings. If Turkey participates in the process of preparing lists she will try to add the names of PKK's and religious terror groups offsprings continuing their acitivies under the name Islam into the list."


6. - Middle East Newsline - "Ankara wants no U.S. WMD in Turkish air space":

ANKARA

Turkey has obtained a commitment from the United States that the Pentagon will not transport any nonconventional weapons through Turkish air space in any military offensive against Saudi billionaire Osama Bin Laden.

Turkish government sources said the commitment was demanded by the Turkey's General Staff. They said the military brass wanted to ensure that none of the dozens of U.S. warplanes using the southern Incerlik air base was carrying biological or nuclear weapons.

Ankara obtained the U.S. commitment over the weekend, the sources said. They said the General Staff and the Foreign Ministry was given a U.S. diplomatic note from the State Department for the use of Turkish air space and facilities for increased U.S. military traffic.

The U.S. planes also requested to use Turkish air space to send supplies and troops to Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In the end, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell relayed a commitment to Ankara that the planes would not transport weapons of mass destruction.

Turkish officials have not confirmed the exchange between Ankara and Washington. But they acknowledged that Ankara is being pressed to be a major player in any U.S. attack on Bin Laden.

"A new period has begun concerning the struggle against terrorism," Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said. "We must remain cautious and serious in the period.