Turkish Daily News, 96-06-26

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From: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>

TURKISH DAILY NEWS
26 June 1996

CONTENTS

[01] RP-DYP coalition hinges on Ciller's ability to sway critics

[02] Police deal blow to PKK in Istanbul

[03] Human rights dominate EU-Turkey relationship

[04] HADEP's move to become a mass party hits huge obstacle

[01] RP-DYP coalition hinges on Ciller's ability to sway critics

ANKARA- No concrete result could be obtained during the third round of talks between Welfare Party (RP) leader Necmettin Erbakan and True Path Party (DYP) Chairwoman Tansu Ciller which lasted for one hour and 15 minutes on Tuesday.

Following Ciller's statement that she needed some time to consult with her colleagues about Erbakan's premiership and that she personally accepted his being prime minister, Erbakan decided to wait for another two days. During this period Ciller will reportedly try to persuade her colleagues in the DYP party administration and in the parliamentary group who oppose a coalition with the RP, the merits of such a coalition.

Ciller reportedly sought the views of each of the members of the DYP Chairmanship Board prior to her meeting with Erbakan. She apparently ended the meeting by telling them that she would make her own decision regarding the coalition deal. Following this meeting Ciller reportedly went home to assess the situation. Half of the members of the Chairmanship Board opposed a coalition with the RP and they particularly did not want the seat of the prime minister to be given to Erbakan. In return other members reportedly defended that Erbakan should be given the seat as he is the chairman of the largest party in Parliament.

Ciller, who has so far not been able to support either one of these views, reportedly favors the DYP participating in a government under Erbakan's premiership but now wants to measure the reaction of her parliamentary group to put her decision into effect. If, following Ciller's move, more deputies defect from the DYP, the formation of a DYP-RP coalition will not be possible.

[02] Police deal blow to PKK in Istanbul

ANKARA- Following a series of operations against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is once again preparingserious actions, Istanbul police have arrested eight militants, including two women, and seized the biggest armory found in recent years, together with sensational action plans.

Istanbul Police Director Kemal Yazicioglu said some of the militants captured had been trained in bombing and sabotage in Greece. He said some of the militants were caught producing explosives, while others were seized as they were trying to put their plans into effect in various districts of Istanbul.

Yazicioglu said five rocket launchers, three Kalashnikov automatic rifles and five pistols, together with ammunition for these weapons, had been seized during the searches conducted at hideouts revealed by the militants. He added that amongst other weapons and ammunition were 57 assault-type hand-grenades of foreign origin, one defense-type hand-grenade, 13 bomb shells containing explosives, three time-fuse bomb shells, six sticks of dynamite, and 80 kilograms of chemicals such as TNT, ammonium nitrate and potassium chlorate used for producing explosives.

He also reported the discovery of 211 items of chemical equipment in 22 packages, seven false seals, eight video cassettes containing PKK propaganda, 23 flags, photographs of several organization leaders and camps, and false ID cards, passports and licenses.

Yazicioglu said that interrogation of the militants had revealed their involvement in the killing of Enver Bili on July 14, 1995, and bombings in various parts of Istanbul in August and September of 1995.

The militants had also been involved in extortion and recruitment for the separatist organization in rural areas, Yazicioglu said, as well as providing logistical support for the militants in these rural areas.

Yazicioglu noted that if the militants had not been captured on June 14 they would have blown up the Aksaray subway at rush hour, using a time- fused bomb. He said they were also preparing to carry out bomb attacks against large shopping malls, markets, hotels, entertainment centers, and other locations popular with tourists.

Responding to journalists' questions, Yazicioglu said that the militants who were trained at the Lavrion refugee camp inGreece had infiltrated into Turkey via the Maritza river. He added that it was extremely fortunate that the militants had been caught without being able to carry out their planned actions.

Yazicioglu was flanked by Atilla Cinar of the Anti-Terrorism Department and Adem Demir of the Intelligence Branch, who were also involved in the operations.

[03] Human rights dominate EU-Turkey relationship

Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay says Greece uses its position as EU member to prevent development of Turkey-Europe relations

Turkish Daily News

ANKARA- The European Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting which started yesterday in Ankara showed that human rights dominate relations between Turkey and the European Union and Greece, as well as economic aid problems.

These meetings were broken off by the Turkish side three years ago after the condemnation by the European Union of Turkey for the arrests of pro- Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP) deputies.

At the opening ceremony in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, co-chairman of the committee, Kahramanmaras Deputy Mehmet Saglam, said that in Turkey there was a general impression that the European Union was badly informed about the realities of Turkey and that those who are hostile to Turkey tried to fill this gap.

He said that last year's changes in the Constitution and the criminal law were important and a step forward on the path of improving democracy.

Another co-chairman of the committee, French parliamentarian Rene Emile Piquet, said that the aim of the meeting was an exchange of views and that the European delegation had come to listen to Turkey's problems. He told the assembled parliamentarians that Europe carefully watched the developments in democracy in Turkey but still had some doubts about human rights and democracy.

Turkish Foreign Minister Emre Gonensay said that Greece used its position as a member of the European Union in order to prevent the developments of the relationship between Turkey and the union. He pointed out that the dialogue mechanisms between Turkey and Greece had broken down after Greece became a full member, a situation which he called "thought-provoking."

He said that the problems between Greece and Turkey were historical and serious. "Greece is neglecting even the existence of some of these problems. But it wants to find solutions to problems chosen by itself, problems which it has selected," Gonensay added.

He reminded his audience of the peace call of Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz to Greece, and said although that Greece had not responded to the call, it was still valid.

Gonensay said that the European Union was sensitive to democracy, human rights and within this framework it was sensitive to the situation of Kurds. Turkey would be satisfied by these efforts as long as they were constructive, he added.

He said that Turkey could not accept violence in any form, terrorist or not, as a means of improving human rights. He added that he wanted to believe that the European Union shared this stance.

"I would like to emphasize that suggestions which are advising the changing of the historical state structure of Turkey, are considered as interference and cannot be accepted by Turkey," the foreign minister said.

On the question of economic aid to Turkey as part of the customs union deal, Gonensay asserted Turkey's rights to the funds, which are currently being blocked by Greece. He warned that unless economic cooperation materialized, the custom union would become nonsense and public opinion in Turkey would start to ask questions about the partnership with the union.

Italian Ambassador to Ankara Michelangelo Pisani said that economic aid was an indispensable part of the custom union agreement. Speaking on behalf of Italy, which holds the current term presidency of the European Union, he said that Europe understood the violence attacks against Turkey but stressed that the struggle against these attacks should be carried out within the framework of law.

European Union representative Michael Lake said that democracy and human rights needed to improve in Turkey.

The afternoon sessions of the committee were closed to the press. In these meetings the main subjects were the custom union, the intergovernmental conference and Turkey's economic situation. The meetings finish today.

[04] HADEP's move to become a mass party hits huge obstacle

By Erdinc Ergenc / Turkish Daily News

ISTANBUL- The 2nd Congress of the People's Democracy Party (HADEP), held in Ankara last Sunday to complete the restructuring it had started after the Dec. 24, 1995 elections, generated great controversy when the Turkish flag was torn down and replaced by the PKK flag. This event led to a huge outcry from many groups but which dismissed by party representatives as one of sabotage or provocation.

After the events, none of the Turkish press took into consideration HADEP's restructuring. This detail, perhaps as important as the flag event itself, went unremarked.

It has been claimed that some politicians who are unpopular, due to the government crisis, have found a way with this event to draw the attention of the public elsewhere.

The congress ended with the detention of HADEP Chairman Murat Bozlak and some party officials. Later, three delegates to the congress were murdered when their convoy was attacked as they were returning to Kahramanmaras. A bomb attack on the party's Izmir headquarters also followed.

After all this chaos, HADEP is perhaps entering the most important period of its history. HADEP, which is aiming to undertake a new mission concerning the Kurdish problem, had completed its reconstruction after the elections with this congress. But these events have brought the party, the fourthof its type founded, near to the danger of being closed down.

HEP, OZDEP, DEP and HADEP

HADEP, founded after the closure of the People's Labor Party (HEP), the Freedom and Democracy Party (OZDEP) and the Democracy Party (DEP) by the Constitutional Court, has as its central policy aim, solving the Kurdish problem. One difference from its predecessor parties is that it has labelled itself a Turkish party far more than the others, and has tried to act accordingly. Even if these activities have been none too successful, HADEP has expressed itself as a potential ally for other opposition parties.

HADEP, which claims to act as the mouthpiece of the Kurdish people, is on the left-wing of the political spectrum. Being a left-wing party is as much an obligation as a voluntary choice.

Bahuttin Gul, a party official, told the weekly magazine "Soz" that the party was a mass left-wing party.

HADEP representatives claim that right-wing parties in Turkey see the resolution of the Kurdish problem in only military terms but claim that they will resolve the problem in a political way just to get the votes of the Kurdish people.

Mesut Yilmaz was accused of this behaviour by HADEP Chairman Murat Bozluk, during his speech to the congress. He said that Yilmaz had talked of "democratic resolution" and that he had accepted the Kurdish problem as the most important problem in the country. He said that Yilmaz had gone to Igdir, during Nevroz --Kurdish New Year celebrations -- to support "red, yellow and green" colors, but added that he had stopped soon afterward. Bozlak added that the Kurdish problem was not simple and could not be solved by any one person.

For this reason HADEP can form coalitions with parties that aim to solve the Kurdish problem in a political way, and did this in the last election with the Labor, Peace and Freedom bloc. Even though this bloc later split, it had been at the time very promising.

HADEP to become a mass party

HADEP, founded to resolve the Kurdish problem in the legal, political arena, aimed to become a mass party at its last congress. Both due to their political experience and outside pressures -- their members had witnessed the closure of three earlier parties -- they have been trying to act more carefully. But the events taking place at the congress turned all this upside down and has given a unique opportunity to those who claim that the party is just a legal extension of the PKK.

Party representatives who claimed that the events at the congress were sabotage, considered the meeting a turning point for HADEP. They said that they didn't approve of the flag insult and added that it had been greatly exaggerated.

HADEP received five percent of the votes at the last general election, but were unable to enter Parliament because of the 10 percent national threshold -- their absence being considered by all parties as a negative effect of the system. It was reported that while HADEP's name was unknown in the past, its presence is no longer neglected at high levels of state, on TV and in Parliament.

As is the case with other states living with the same kind of conflicts, Turkey declares that: "There can be no negotiations with terrorists." This is a fundamental tenet of the Turkish state regarding the PKK, and seems sensible in this context. However, the state has given no sign of willingness to negotiate with HADEP either.

HADEP executives think that European countries and the United States believe that HADEP is the best address for peace negotiations, while describing the PKK as a terrorist organization.

Some circles considering the latest events, ending in the detention of party chairman Murat Bozlak and many party members, as the destruction of HADEP's role in the peace negotiations. They claim that these events following each other were nothing but a plot that was planned beforehand.

Aiming for a seat at the negotiating table

HADEP wanted to put an end to the isolationist policy that was submitted by this congress. It understood that they were not able to express themselves well enough to the masses, and also that they were not able to reflect their opinions concerning subjects such as democracy, women and workers.

Some circles within the party, claiming that HADEP couldn't be well organized due to domestic problems within the frame of the Labor Peace Bloc, said that by becoming a mass party, with a pluralist approach, they wanted to reach a level that not only included the left-wing but all sections of society, including Islamists and groups that aim to change the existing order. At the congress, those who were supporting this approach and those who were opposed to it strongly expressed their own opinions.

The restructuring period that started after Dec. 24, 1995 election was in reality undertaken in the name of party consensus and the understanding that HADEP needed to look for wider platforms for the resolution of the Kurdish problem.

With the restructuring process, the party rid itself of its ideological image, and transformed itself into a platform bringing together different divisions. Although this was considered, in a way, as an expansion, it was seen within the party as a narrowing. The administration, seen as a coalition of various groups, is now seen as a platform where individuals can exist independently from groups, divisions and ideologies.

This reform, considered by some as a reflection of the exclusion of the hammer and sickle from the flag of the PKK in 1995, also brought about some disquiet in party ranks.

The speech of party officials at the last congress of HADEP, bringing together various divisions, proved this clearly. The party's former vice- secretary, Abdullah Saygin, complaining about the narrowing of the party, said that he won't take part in the administration anymore with his friends but would continue to work as an ordinary member.

Party assembly member Enver Karahan addressed the circles aiming to see the party as a Turkish party and said that HADEP's policy should be revised so that they are accepted as a Kurdish party.

Murat Bozlak was the only candidate for the chairmanship of the party. But the most important thing was the election of party assembly and discipline committee members. The elections, that were boycotted by some, ended with the reformers winning a mandate to turn the party into a mass-based organization.

HADEP, preparing a good showcase for the peace negotiations table, is now waiting to sit at the table.

However, the future of the party now depends on the steps authorities may take in light of the recent events.

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