TRKNWS-LTurkish Press Review (April 14, 1995)

From: hristu@arcadia.harvard.edu (Dimitrios Hristu)

Subject: TRKNWS-LTurkish Press Review (April 14, 1995)

CONTENTS

  • [01] LE MONDE: "NORTHERN IRAQI OPERATION SUCCESSFUL"

  • [02] 427 PKK MILITANTS KILLED

  • [03] AFTER US TOUR, CILLER WILL VISIT AZERBAIJAN

  • [04] US: "PKK, A BRUTAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION"

  • [05] BONN: "NO STANDING IN INTERNATIONAL LAW"

  • [06] ANKARA SENDS PROTEST NOTE TO HOLLAND

  • [07] DIPLOMATIC CRISIS IN THE HAGUE

  • [08] IRAQI KURDS AGAINST KURDISH PARLIAMENT IN-EXILE

  • [09] REACTION FROM TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN IN GERMANY

  • [10] PKK USING VILLAGERS TO SMUGGLE DRUGS

  • [11] ECEVIT-PEREZ MEETING

    •

    WITH THE COMPLIMENT OF

    DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION

    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW

    APRIL 14, 1995

    Summary of the political news in the Turkish press this

    morning.

    [01] LE MONDE: "NORTHERN IRAQI OPERATION SUCCESSFUL"

    Le Monde newspaper, which previously wrote that following Turkey's military operation in northern Iraq, the Turkish government would influence parliament to take steps regarding democratization, yesterday pointed out that the operation had been successful from the standpoint of destroying the logistic support system of the PKK. The article, which stated that northern Iraq was a mountainous region full of mines, noted the difficulties of a cross border operation, and said: "If the aim is to destroy the logistic support of the separatist organization, the operation is successful. Furthermore, the operation can also be effective in the changing of ideas among the conservatives who block the democratization process". The article added that the government was looking for a solution in cooperation with the Iraqi Kurds to ensure border security in northern Iraq". /Hurriyet/

    [02] 427 PKK MILITANTS KILLED

    427 PKK terrorists have been killed during the Turkish Armed Forces "Operation Steel" in northern Iraq since March 20. According to the General Staff Press and Information Centre, during conflict with PKK terrorists yesterday and the previous day, 10 more PKK militants were killed. Thus, the number of terrorists killed has risen to 427. During the last three days of the operation, three soldiers have been killed. /Hurriyet/

    [03] AFTER US TOUR, CILLER WILL VISIT AZERBAIJAN

    Prime Minister Tansu Ciller promised to visit Baku following her 7-day US visit, while she was signing a share-increase agreement with Azeri President Haydar Aliyev. The main purpose of the visit will be the oil pipeline. During the one-day visit of Ciller to Baku, alternatives were taken up regarding the route of a proposed oil pipeline via Armenia or Georgia. It is reported that if steps are taken for securing an Armenian-Azeri peace during Ciller's visit to the US, this will influence the solution to the problem. Ciller will carry a message from Aliyev to US President Bill Clinton regarding a solution to the Karabakh issue. Ciller will go to New York tomorrow. Ciller, who will make a series of contacts, will meet with President Clinton on Wednesday. She will come together with former US President George Bush on Friday. Prime Minister Ciller will return to Turkey next Saturday. /Hurriyet/

    [04] US: "PKK, A BRUTAL TERRORIST ORGANIZATION"

    The US administration has condemned the Kurdish Parliament in-exile. Washington pointed out that the Kurdish Parliament was under the control of the PKK terrorist organization. US State Department Spokesman Nicholas Burns said that Washington accepted that the PKK was "a brutal terrorist organization" and described the parliament in The Hague as a "PKK Parliament in-exile". /Hurriyet/

    [05] BONN: "NO STANDING IN INTERNATIONAL LAW"

    Federal Germany has made no official statement over the "Kurdish Parliament in-exile". However in answer to a question, a Federal Germany Foreign Ministry spokesman said: "Kurdish Parliament in-exile" has no standings from the point of international law". He also pointed out that there was no state called Kurdistan and that this so-called parliament could not be representative as it was not established as the result of an election. /Hurriyet/

    [06] ANKARA SENDS PROTEST NOTE TO HOLLAND

    Using strong diplomatic terminology, Ankara has again protested to Holland about the Dutch attitude towards the setting up of a Kurdish parliament-in-exile despite opposition from Turkey.

    The Foreign Ministry yesterday called Dutch Ambassador Jan Horak to the ministry for talks on the latest dev- elopments, but according to reports, the Ambassador de- clined to talk about the parliament.

    The Turkish Ambassador in Holland has been recalled to Ankara to provide an evaluation of the development which Ankara so strongly opposes.

    Most comments in the European and US press are against the formation of a Kurdish parliament in Holland.

    Following announcement of the opening of the Kurdish par- liament, spokesman for the US State Department, Nicholas Burns declared that the US "gave absolutely no support to the PKK parliament."

    Most European papers describe the parliament-in-exile as a figment of the imagination, with no hope of success or even coming near the realities of a free parliament based on democratic principles. /All papers/

    [07] DIPLOMATIC CRISIS IN THE HAGUE

    Members of the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and former Democratic Party (DEP) parliamentarians who held a meeting of the "Kurdish Parliament-in-exile" have created a crisis between Turkey and Holland.

    The Dutch Ambassador to Ankara was invited to the Foreign Ministry yesterday and handed a protest note. Also, Turkey's Ambassador to The Hague, Zeki Celikkol, was asked to come to Turkey to assess recent developments.

    The Turkish Foreign Ministry stressed that Turkey had withdrawn its ambassador to the Hague, but following a change in the Dutch attitude, he would return.

    In the protest note it was pointed out that giving permission for a terrorist organization to hold meetings was against international law. It was also stated that allowing the meeting of a terrorist organization, which threated the territorial integrity of Turkey, would have a negative effect on Turco-Dutch relations.

    State Minister and Government Spokesman Yildirim Aktuna stated that despite top-level protests, NATO-member Holland had acted against international agreements. A 6-hour meeting was held at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

    Meanwhile, a government statement was issued following a discussion by the Council of Ministers. It stressed that Turkey felt regret over the Dutch attitude regarding the meeting. It said: "The attitude of Holland is a clear violation of its international obligations regarding the struggle against terrorism". /Hurriyet-Milliyet/

    [08] IRAQI KURDS AGAINST KURDISH PARLIAMENT IN-EXILE

    Opposing Kurdish groups fighting for power in northern Iraq have disclosed that they are against the Kurdish Parliament in-exile. Safeen Dizayee, Ankara Representative of Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Mesut Barzani, said yesterday that it was noteworthy the Kurdish Parliament in-exile was under the influence of the PKK. He said "Whatever they do, we have nothing to do with them. We have our own parliament and we do not believe that a parliament in-exile will produce anything". The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by Celal Talabani, also disclosed that it did not accept the Kurdish Parliament in-exile, or support this development. /Hurriyet/

    [09] REACTION FROM TURKISH PARLIAMENTARIAN IN GERMANY

    Cem Ozdemir, a parliamentarian in the German parliament yesterday said that the parliament-in-exile set up in Holland was "nothing but a front for the PKK and its supporters."

    Noting that the Kurdish parliament could do nothing to bring peace or a lasting solution, Ozdemir said in a statement to the German press that the parliament was powerless to help and was not convincing in its aims. /Sabah/

    [10] PKK USING VILLAGERS TO SMUGGLE DRUGS

    According to a new report from the Narcotics Division of National Security Directorate, the PKK terror or- ganization is using villagers in the southestern regions of Turkey to produce drugs and traffic them.

    Recent military operations in the region have brought to light PKK activities involving the supply and distribution of seeds for drug production and the setting up of routes for getting the product into the drug market.

    The report gives a number of instances where drug operat- ions have been discovered and dismantled by security forces in the Diyarbakir area. /Cumhuriyet/

    [11] ECEVIT-PEREZ MEETING

    Chairman of the Democratic Left Party (DSP), Bulent Ecevit, met with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Perez yesterday. Vice-President of the DSP, Rahsan Ecevit and Turkish Ambassador to Israel Onur Gokce, also attended the meeting. During the meeting, Ecevit said that they discussed a new plan for the Middle East and West Mediterranean for more security and cooperation. /Cumhuriyet/

    END

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