26
August 2004
2. "Seven hurt by bomb explosion in southern Turkey", seven people were slightly hurt when a bomb exploded overnight outside a bank in Dortyol, southern Turkey, near the border with Syria, the Anatolia news agency reported Wednesday.
3. "NGO's in Turkey: We don't want the anti-Kurdish "Orient Army", we want investments!", non-governmental organizations (NGO) reacted against Van centered Orient Army that is bound to be established in some parts of East Anatolia with the cooperation of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and Minister of National Defense. The NGO's said they want economic investments instead of construction of a new army.
4. "Condolezza Rice`s firm stand against Kurdish national recognition", remarks made by Dr. Condolezza Rice, the United States National Security Advisor, at the Institute of Peace on August 19 reaffirm the Bush administration’s opposition to the realization of Kurdish national recognition and to the protection of Kurdish human rights.
5. "Turkey in last ditch effort before EU report", the AKP calls for an extraordinary session of Parliament to take up a government proposal to draft a new Turkish Penal Code, in line with EU requirements ahead of a key EU report due on Oct 6.
6. "A Turkish Reform to Keep Up with Europe", At a time when Ankara is deploying every possible effort to join the European Union (EU), after it declared undertaking several reform steps and a quantum leap in its security file, the European Human Rights Court issued a report that denounced Ankara's politics, which violated clause 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), related to freedom of expression.
1. - Reuters - "PKK says open to bilateral truce with Turkey":
ARBIL / 25 August 2004 / by Seb Walker*
Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas who called off a unilateral ceasefire in June would halt attacks if the Turkish government agreed to a bilateral truce, a PKK official said on Tuesday.
He also denied Turkish police charges that the rebel group was behind a trio of bomb attacks in Istanbul two weeks ago, which killed two people and injured 11.
"If Turkey ceases its operations then we will cease ours too," Rostam Judin, an executive committee member of the group, known since November 2003 as the Kurdistan People's Congress (KONGRA-GEL), told Reuters in a telephone interview.
The 20-year conflict in southeast Turkey has killed more than 30,000 people, mostly ethnic Kurds. Violence dropped off sharply with the capture of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in 1999 and most PKK guerrillas withdrew to northern Iraq.
But in June the PKK suspended its six-year unilateral truce and resumed attacks on security forces blaming Turkey for not letting up on its attacks on them.
When Ocalan's brother, Osman, left the group, speculation mounted that the group had splintered, leaving outsiders uncertain who was in command.
Speaking from a mountain stronghold in Iraq's Kurdish zone, where around 5,000 PKK fighters are now believed to be based, Judin said his statements represented the position of the group's official military wing.
"We are the same movement, we're working on the same political issues," Judin said.
"NO LINK" WITH ISTANBUL ATTACKS
Ankara has blamed the PKK for bomb attacks on two small hotels and a gas depot in Istanbul on August 10, for which both a previously unknown Kurdish group and a group linking itself with al Qaeda claimed responsibility.
Judin condemned the attacks and denied any PKK involvement, saying that since the ceasefire ended PKK guerrillas had acted solely to defend themselves against Turkish security forces.
"We do not support these (bombings), we don't want to see civilians killed," he said.
A group called the Kurdistan Liberation Hawks (TAK) claimed responsibility for the bombs, saying they were in response to attacks by security forces on the PKK in southeast Turkey.
But Turkish police pinned the blame squarely on the PKK, saying the bombs were a gesture aimed at rallying militant support and masking an internal power struggle after Osman Ocalan quit the group.
Judin strongly rejected any PKK links with TAK.
"The PKK has no relationship with this group," he said.
Sources close to the PKK in southeast Turkey paint a picture of a united guerrilla group in which Abdullah Ocalan still pulls the strings from his jail on Turkey's Imrali island.
"There is no division in the organisation," said one source in the southeastern city of Diyarbakir, who asked not to be named. "This is a lie. There's only one leader of the organisation and he's now in Imrali."
Iraqi Kurd officials say Osman Ocalan is in Mosul, where he has formed a breakaway political grouping, the Patriotic Democratic Party. Turkish media reports say his brother has condemned him for leaving the PKK.
"They are working against us now," said Judin.
*(Additional reporting by Gill Tudor in Diyarbakir,
Turkey) 
2. - AFP - "Seven hurt by bomb explosion in southern Turkey":
ANKARA / 25 August 2004
Seven people were slightly hurt when a bomb exploded overnight outside a bank in Dortyol, southern Turkey, near the border with Syria, the Anatolia news agency reported Wednesday.
The police chief of Hatay province Cafer Sahin said the explosion was probably terrorist-linked in a likely reference to Kurdish rebels.
Those hurt included passersby and two people sitting on the terrace of a cake shop opposite the Is Bank. The injured were taken to hospital.
The blast blew out windows in nearby buildings. On Monday, a youth was killed and another injured in an explosion in Antalya harbour, the country's top tourist destination.
Police have refused to say what caused the blast. Kurdish rebels, who claimed responsibility for the bombing earlier this month of two Istanbul hotels, have warned tourists to stay away from Turkey.
Hatay province in the past has seen clashes between security forces and Kurdish rebels.
Kurdish rebels declared an end to their unilateral truce in June and clashes with security forces have multiplied since in the mainly Kurdish southeast of the country.
On Wednesday, a soldier was killed and another wounded
in an ambush near Semdinli, in the southeast of the country, Anatolia
said.
3. - DIHA - "NGO's in Turkey: We don't want the anti-Kurdish "Orient Army", we want investments!":
VAN / 25 August 2004 / (Edited version)
Non-governmental organizations (NGO) reacted against Van centered Orient Army that is bound to be established in some parts of East Anatolia with the cooperation of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and Minister of National Defense. The NGO's said they want economic investments instead of construction of a new army.
Preparations for the establishment of the Van centered Orient Army that will comprise the provinces of Mus, Hakkari, Agri, Igdir and Bitlis were started in Van. The entrance of the Army HQ was changed and infrastructural workings were accelerated.
According to assertions, new strategies were developed
in the region against smuggling and terrorist organizations' actions.
In addition to these, Chief of General Staff, General Hilmi Ozkok and
the Commander-in-Chief of Gendarmery, General Feyzi Turkeri also visited
Van and investigated the situation of Van within last 2 months. The
visit was related with the project of establishment the Orient Army.
'Factories should be constructed instead of Orient Army'
Representative of NGO's stated that they did not want
to see wars and tears; they demanded to put an end to the construction
of Orient Army and to establish factories in region. The Executive Board
Chairman of Van Branch of Association for Social Solidarity and Culture
for Migrants (Van GOC-DER), Kiyasettin Gultepe remarked that Turkey
tried to create a
new army to get power in Middle East but this was not the demand of
region's people. Gultepe continued as follows:
"Thousands of villages were emptied during conflicts
that had continued for 15 years. Migrants became poor and suffered from
poverty and starvation. But last 6 years were relatively good. We tried
to improve these people's life standards during these 6 years and we
expected to see investments into these region. But we learned that a
new army will
be established in Van. In this case Van will be a military zone, war
will be started and we will be witnesses and victims of this war. People
do not need to see a new army being established but need to see new
factories established."
'The idea of establishment of new army creates violence'
Stating that Turkey, especially through its military forces,
tried to impose the idea that foreign attacks terribly threaten Turkish
state, Head of DEHAP Van Branch, Abdurrahman Dogar said, "As if
a new army is immediate need of this underdeveloped region, they plan
to establish a new army, named Orient Army. Some tried to create a new
Kurd-phobia after US's interference to Iraq. The two main reasons of
the construction of this army are controlling the Kurds and obtaining
power in Middle East. The idea of establishment of a new army creates
violence. That is why we will try to prevent the establishment of this
army."
What is the reason of establishment of the Orient Army?
The 1st Army was established to protect the straits and
to impede the holdown of Istanbul. 2nd Army was established against
the policies of Hafis-Al-Asad. The Aegean Army was constructed against
a possible war with Greece after the Greek Government was overthrown
by Captains' junta. 3rd Army was constructed against Communism danger
and it was asserted that the Orient Army as the 5th army would be established
against a possible Kurdish State in Northern Iraq and organized Kurdish
activities in southeast Anatolia.
4. - KurdishMedia.com - "Condolezza Rice`s firm
stand against Kurdish national recognition":
25 August 2004 / by Rauf Naqishbendi
Remarks made by Dr. Condolezza Rice, the United States National Security Advisor, at the Institute of Peace on August 19 reaffirm the Bush administration’s opposition to the realization of Kurdish national recognition and to the protection of Kurdish human rights.
Dr. Rice’s laudatory remarks concerning the importance of Turkey as a "Muslim democracy" reflect the hypocrisy of the Bush administration regarding its alleged interest in establishing a humane foreign policy in the Middle East. According to Dr. Rice, "Turkey is, of course, an important country as the bridge between the Muslim world, a Muslim democracy and the Western world." Apparently, Dr. Rice needs to check her facts: as history testifies, a "Muslim Democracy" has never existed. Furthermore, Dr. Rice is well aware of Turkey’s human rights record. Turkey has persisted in systematically denying a full one-third of its population their basic human rights, including the fundamental, natural right of speaking their mother tongue. The fifteen million Kurds in Turkey have been demonized and treated as less than slaves. How can Dr. Rice claim such a country is a democracy?
Turkish authorities have resisted recognizing Kurdish national and human rights for more than half a century. As a last resort in the face of these oppressive conditions, Kurds have had to take up arms and fight for their freedom. The PKK are freedom fighters for an oppressed people whose cause can be easily compared to that of the American Revolutionaries who fought hard for American independence. In fact, the legitimacy of these freedom fighters is more irrefutable with the full support of a majority of Kurds. Dr. Rice, however, disregards these truths by labeling them a terrorist group.
The dehumanizing situation of the Kurds in Turkey could have been prevented if the U.S. had attached a human rights string to its enormous monetary, political and military aid to Turkey. In contrast to this simple solution, the U.S. continues to allow Turkey to exist as a dependent welfare state by supplying it with unconditional, and seemingly unlimited, aid. One can surely say that the abuse of Kurdish human rights in Turkey persists with the endorsement of the U.S.
This U.S. administration is not interested in the future of the Iraqi people, particularly that of the Kurds. Even as the White House was talking about a democratic Iraq, that same administration informed the Kurdish leaders that Kurds are not to be allowed to hold the post of Iraqi presidency or the seat of prime minister. How can such a policy bring about a democratic and stable Iraq? Apparently, the Bush administration is trying to redefine the meaning of democracy. In their definition, freedom means being free to do what pleases the American Right.
Kurds in Iraq have engaged in the democratic process of holding a referendum on Kurdish independence. Ninety percent of the voters supported an independent Kurdistan. This was meant to inform the world of the Kurds disenchantment with subordination and subjugation to other nations. Dr. Rice, self appointed enemy to democracy, dismissed the referendum with her disgusting comment, "Such referenda on independence have taken place in lots of places, including, for instance, Canada to our north. And it’s been the role of leadership to convince people that they really ought to stay in the same body." For the Kurds to vote for their independence is a noble action that fueled the desire for freedom in every community where Kurds reside. This determination should not surprise Dr. Rice. Once again, Dr. Rice, as the representative of the administration’s policy, is going against the will and the dream of the people. She wants to impose an arrogant power play for Iraq. It is ironic that she cites Canada as place where an independence referendum has taken place. The Kurdish citizens of Canada enjoy the right to express their will by voting on issues that concern them, just like American citizens abroad voting on presidential elections. Her statement shows that she believes it is best for Kurdish leaders to ignore the wishes of the people. Such blatant disregard for the will of the people is the essence of monarchy rather than democracy.
Moreover, Dr. Rice acknowledges that many unions among nations have been dissolved through the democratic process of the referendum, such as that demonstrated by the Kurds. It should also be acknowledged that nations have the right to merge and dissolve. A referendum seeking to empty a union only requires the votes of those seeking to dissolve the union. This is exactly what the Kurds have done. Dr. Rice should have respected their vote as a matter of decency and an expression of democratic spirit.
Dr. Rice takes a firm stand against the Kurds right to determine their destiny. According to her, the Iraqi people "have demonstrated that they really want to live as one in a unified Iraq." Once again, Dr. Rice is spouting her administration’s policy and ignoring the facts right in front of her. It is clear that the Kurdish people do not want to be part of Iraq and never asked to be included in that nation. They have every reason not to be part of the bloody Faluja or Najaf. Charging the Kurdish leaders with the task of convincing Kurds to be willing subject themselves to being part of a chaotic Iraq is outrageous. The desire for an independent Kurdistan is so deeply rooted in the heart and mind of every Kurd that they will resent anyone suggesting otherwise.
Without a doubt, Kurds want to be a free nation and they
will remain dissatisfied until the dawn of a new day when the flag of
an independent Kurdistan is posted on the United Nations Headquarters
and that country is treated as an equal to other nations. To insist
on maintaining an integrated Iraq is insane and will worsen the chaos
there. If the U. S. wants to restore justice and tranquility in the
region, then it must admit that an independent Kurdistan is justice
overdue. Its time is now.
5. - Turkish Daily News - "Turkey in last ditch effort before EU report":
The AKP calls for an extraordinary session of Parliament to take up a government proposal to draft a new Turkish Penal Code, in line with EU requirements ahead of a key EU report due on Oct 6.
ANKARA / 25 August 2004
In an effort to leave no task unfinished ahead of a critical European
Union review of Turkey's membership efforts in October, Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party has called for an extraordinary
session of Parliament in mid-September to discuss a newly-proposed penal
code.
The EU Commission will release a progress report on Turkey's reform efforts on Oct. 6. The report will largely shape a decision in December of EU leaders on whether or not to start long-delayed accession talks with Ankara.
Turkish officials contend that Ankara has finished the major portion of its legal reform, with the main exception being the ongoing preparations for a Turkish Penal Code (TCK).
Verheugen due in Ankara in Sept
Ahead of the key October report, Turkey's preparations are expected to come under scrutiny when EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen arrives in Ankara in early September
A Turkish official, who declined to be identified, told the TDN that Verheugen is due in Ankara between Sept. 5-8 for talks, but he did not elaborate.
The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Central Executive Board is calling on Parliament to discuss a government-backed proposal to introduce a new TCK on Sept. 14, AKP's Deputy Chairman Dengir Mir Mehmet Firat told reporters after a two-hour meeting of the board.
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said his office had not yet received any formal request as of yesterday, but added that he would call for a special session if the AKP managed to fulfill the technical conditions for such a gathering. In order to convene an extraordinary meeting of Parliament, the parliament speaker needs signatures from at least 110 deputies, or an official request from the government.
Why the October report is crucial
The new TCK is expected to come into force in January 2005 after completion of the parliamentary approval process. An extensive training program is underway in the Justice Ministry to prepare ministry personnel for the amended codes.
The AKP has a sweeping majority in Parliament, holding more than two-thirds of the 550 seats. Soon after coming to power in the November 2002 elections, the AKP declared Turkey's EU membership a top priority, and has pushed for a series of reforms aimed at curbing military influence in politics and boosting cultural rights of Turkish citizens with different ethnic roots.
The Oct. 6 report will provide an assessment of Turkey's reform efforts and recommend to EU leaders, who are set to decide on Turkey's request to open the accession talks, if talks should, in fact, begin.
Turkish officials have said Ankara was in touch with the EU Commission in the run-up to the report and emphasized that talks with the commission's authorities concentrated on religious freedoms, freedom of expression, military-civilian relations, cultural rights and the situation in southeastern Anatolia; a reference to discrepancies in the level of development between the region and the rest of Turkey.
PM to tour Europe prior to October report
Only days before the report is released, the prime minister will visit Brussels, the EU capital, on Oct. 2, to attend the opening ceremony of a Turkish exhibition.
He is scheduled to depart for Germany after Brussels and is expected to receive a German friendship award in the country's capital, Berlin.
His last stop in Europe, ahead of the release of the report, is in Strasbourg, where he is scheduled to address the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on Oct. 4-5.
Erdogan will visit France on Oct. 20-21 to address a conference
marking the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the French International
Relations Institute.
6. - Al-Hayat - "A Turkish Reform to Keep Up with Europe":
24 August 2004 / by Nizam Mardini
At a time when Ankara is deploying every possible effort to join the European Union (EU), after it declared undertaking several reform steps and a quantum leap in its security file, the European Human Rights Court issued a report that denounced Ankara's politics, which violated clause 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), related to freedom of expression.
Turkey had trained 9,200 judges and investigators, on the way to treat the arrested people humanely, according to the European criteria in this field.
The European Commission welcomed a series of amendments in May 2004, which allow Ankara to implement the European democratic criteria; yet, the latest denunciations of the European Human Rights Court, raised several questions regarding Ankara's membership: why Turkey, and not other countries that already joined, or are candidate to join the EU soon, should settle the problems of minorities and human rights?
It seems that Europe is still considering that Turkey pretends openness and balance, while it is still Ottoman in its depth, including the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Ihsanuglo, presenting an application to join the Arab League and sign new agreements with Tehran. Europeans think that the Turkish experience is controversial because the popular demonstrations against the NATO Summit, the massive infidelity accusations, and the protests about the subject of the veil in western countries, do not make of it a European tolerant country, especially that the religious aspect is deep-rooted in Turkey, much more than it is in France or Britain.
No doubt that Turkey joining the EU would be a turnover in the relations between the Islamic and western worlds. Turkey enjoys the strong support of President George W. Bush, yet the end of the clash of civilizations should be decided by Europe. In fact, President Jacques Chirac asserted that Turkey is welcome in the EU, yet the European political interest requires the establishment of a stable, democratic and modern Turkish state.
In fact, the EU's ideology goes beyond military, political and economic considerations, and touches the personal and civilization aspect of Europe.
As for modernity, freedom of press, and separation of
Church and State, Turkey has done great achievements in this field.
However, there is a core area that should yet be targeted. It might
be religion, the past, or maybe both. In fact, Bernard Lewis, a historian
of the Muslim world, stated his fear that Europe might convert to Islam
at the end of the century, because of the massive Turkish presence in
Germany, Arab presence in France, and Pakistani presence in Britain.