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Turkish Press Review, 99-02-17Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs <http://www.mfa.gov.tr>17.02.99Summary of the political and economic news in the Turkish press this morningCONTENTS
[01] FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....[02] BANNER HEADLINESAll major dailies devoted their front pages to the capture of the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, Abdullah Ocalan. Cumhuriyet: "Ocalan was brought from Kenya to Turkey. He will be tried". Hurriyet: "Here is Great Turkey. VICTORY. Turkey, which captured the murderer of babies, has proved to the whole world that it is a great state". Sabah: "CONGRATULATIONS TURKEY" Turkiye: "SLEEP IN PEACE MY MARTYR" Aksam: "BLOODY HANDS ARE NOW HANDCUFFED" Milliyet: "FROM GRIEF TO JOY"[03] OCALAN TO FACE TURKISH JUSTICEAbdullah Ocalan, the leader of the PKK terrorist organization, is finally in the hands of Turkish authorities following a 15-year-long terrorist campaign against the Turkish State. Ocalan was brought to Turkey early on Tuesday on a 'special flight', apparently from Kenya. He had reportedly been 'hosted' at the Greek Embassy complex in Nairobi for between 10 and 12 days and was turned over to Kenyan authorities late on Monday night.Flanked by the country's Intelligence Chief, Senkal Atasagun, at a press conference in the Cabinet office, Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit told reporters at the beginning of his remarks announcing Ocalan's capture: "The separatist terrorist organization's leader Ocalan has been here since three o'clock this morning. We had promised that the State would catch him; we have kept our promise. He will pay the price for his deeds in the independent Turkish courts" Ecevit said. Ecevit made an appeal to the remaining terrorists of the PKK to lay down their arms and surrender. Ecevit gave assurances that active PKK members would benefit from an extension to the Repentance Law, which is currently on Parliament's agenda. Ocalan's capture marked a historic moment in the 15-year-old struggle against the PKK, which has claimed the lives of more than 30,000 people. The incident also indicated the unwillingness on the part of European governments to grant political asylum to Ocalan. The US Embassy in Ankara denied reports of their Intelligence having helped Turkey. "The US denies that it was involved in any way in bringing Ocalan to Turkey" a written statement from the Embassy said. The Foreign Ministry in Ankara yesterday summoned 21 Ambassadors, including those from the US, Holland, Finland, Italy, Israel, Germany, Russia, Greece and Sweden, and told them about the latest developments regarding Ocalan's transfer to Turkey. The Foreign Ministry thanked the governments of those Ambassadors for cooperating with Turkey against terrorism. The Ministry also asked them to tighten security around Turkish premises in their countries. Following Ocalan's capture, security was tightened throughout Turkey. To deter any PKK attack, police beefed up security at sensitive sites in Ankara and Istanbul. Meanwhile, Kenya bitterly criticized the Greek Ambassador to Nairobi for getting involved in activities 'incompatible' with his diplomatic status and for deceiving Kenyan officials, asking Athens to recall him. It was later learned that Greece had closed its Embassy in Nairobi. /All papers/ [04] PKK DEMONSTRATIONS ABROADGreek Embassies throughout Europe were stormed by PKK protestors early yesterday after word spread that Ocalan had left the Greek Embassy in Kenya. PKK protestors burst into the Greek and Kenyan Embassies in Vienna and took five hostages at the Greek Embassy, including the Ambassador, Austrian police said. The protesters threatened to set the Kenyan Embassy on fire unless their demands for talks were met.Protesters in The Hague stormed the Greek Ambassador's Residence and held three people hostage, who reportedly included the Ambassador's wife and child. In Denmark, a Kurdish woman who was among 30 demonstrators at a similar protest in front of the Greek Embassy in Copenhagen set herself on fire and was seriously burned. About 40 supporters of Ocalan broke into the UN's European Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Dozens of Kurds burst into the Greek Embassy in Moscow as well. But following negoations with the Greek Ambassador, they were taken away in police vans. Germany also saw a number of protests, with the Greek Embassy in Bonn being taken over. In Athens, police detained 80 Kurdish demonstrators. Kurds have occupied the Greek Embassy in Brussels, along with other Greek premises in EU capitals. /All papers/ [05] LEADERS WELCOME CAPTURE OF OCALANPresident Suleyman Demirel said in a written statement that Ocalan's capture was a 'very important phase' in Turkey's 15-year-old struggle against the PKK terrorist organization. Demirel extended his congratulations, particularly to the Government, the General Staff and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT). He urged all Turkish citizens to contribute to the preservation of the unity of the Turkish State, emphasizing that no power can defeat the State.Motherland Party (ANAP) Leader Mesut Yilmaz and Republican People's Party (CHP) Leader Deniz Baykal expressed their optimism about solving problems in the Southeast, while other leaders simply congratulated the Government. Virtue Party (FP) Leader Recai Kutan evaluated the development, saying it was 'wonderful news'. True Path Party (DYP) Leader Tansu Ciller said: "This incident will be a good example to the world". /All papers/ [06] NEWS WHICH FLASHED ACROSSTelevision and radio channels throughout the world announced the news concerning Ocalan's capture in news flashes. German and Greek TV channels stopped their broadcasts to announce the news. The BBC gave over many hours in its broadcasts yesterday to the news of Ocalan. Meanwhile, French news agencies presented Ocalan as the first news item in their broadcasts.American newspapers, the "Washington Post", the "New York Times" and "US Today" devoted wide coverage to Ocalan's capture and the demonstrations by PKK members outside the Greek Embassies and Consulates in Europe. /Aksam/Turkiye/ [07] EUROPEANS CALL ON TURKEYBerlin: German Interior Minister Otto Schily said that they had not requested but that they had merely called on to Turkey to allow international representatives follow Ocalan's trial and not to apply the death penalty in the verdict to be given at the end of the trial.Paris: French Minister of Foreign Affairs Hubert Vedrine said in his written statement that Turkey should respect the principles of the State of Law in all the procedures concerning Ocalan. London: The British Foreign Office called Ocalan "violent terrorist" in its written statement issued yesterday. It said that Britain was always opposed to both PKK terrorist activities and every terrorist activity. It was also noted that the PKK had not ceased its terrorist activities. Southern Cyprus: The administration announced the news as a very "sad" event. Southern-Cypriot representatives criticised PKK demonstrations held outside Greek Embassies in Europe. Bulgaria: The Bulgarian Ministry of Interior Affairs announced that they would not permit any PKK demonstrations in Sofia or any other region of Bulgaria. EU: The European Union Foreign Affairs Commission discussed Ocalan yesterday and urged Turkey to preserve impartial judgement concerning Ocalan. It was also remarked that international representatives should attend the Ocalan's trial. The Head of the Commission, Hans van den Broek, said that the EU would have no role at that point but they could only ask Turkey to start a legal trial procedure as soon as possible. /Milliyet/Turkiye/ [08] STOCK EXCHANGE JUMPS FOR JOYThe capture of the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan had a strong positive impact on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (IMKB) yesterday. Beginning the first session with on upward trend,the index accelerated its rise following the press conference by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit at 11.00 a.m., in which he declared that Ocalan had been captured. The general index reached 3,355 points by the end of the day, while the average incerase in the price of bonds was 8.41%. Meanwhile, the two bids floated on the market by the Treasury yesterday received record offers which amounted to 2,450 trillions. /Aksam/[09] THREE LAWYERS FROM THE NETHERLANDSLast night, three Dutch lawyers arrived in Istanbul to defend Ocalan during his trial. Britta Bohler, Ties Prakken, Victor Koppen and their interpreter were delayed at the Passport Department in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport. The airport officials asked the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their approval of the lawyers entry into Turkey. It is expected that the Dutch lawyers will be sent back to their country today following the response of the Ministry. /Sabah/[10] PKK APPLIES TO HUMAN RIGHTS COURTThe Dutch lawyer for the PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, has claimed that Ocalan was seized by force in the Greek Embassy in Kenya and brought to Turkey and therefore they will apply to the European Court of Human Rights. The Dutch lawyer, Britta Bohler, said that the arrest was contrary to the regulations and added: "We are very concerned about the future of Ocalan in Turkey. We do not know where he is nor how he is being interrogated or tried".Meanwhile, Ocalan will be tried in State Security Court No.2 in Ankara charged with 'treason' under the 125th article of the Turkish Penal Code. Since he is allegedly responsible for the deaths of 30,000 people, he faces the death penalty. /Hurriyet/ [11] US WELCOMES OCALAN'S DETENTIONThe Clinton Administration evaluated Abdullah Ocalan's enforced return to Turkey as an important diplomatic success and an opportunity to begin diplomatic reforms in Turkey. The US has always supported Turkey in her struggle against the PKK and the Clinton Administration was satisfied with Ocalan's eventual capture. Washington now requested that Turkey bring Ocalan to trial and also calls PKK terrorists to abandon their terrorist activities. The US administration wants Turkey to take advantage of her diplomatic success in solving the Kurdish issue and to begin economic and social reforms in the Southeastern region. /Milliyet/[12] GREECE CANNOT JUMP OVER THE HURDLEThe Greek government is in a difficult situation due to the failure of her policy concerning Ocalan. Athens never openly showed sympathy to Ocalan; she began encouraging EU countries to shelter Ocalan but she refused to be directly involved in the issue. In the last stages of the Ocalan crisis it was understood that Greece was playing a leading role. Diplomatic analysts said that Greece made a grave error by making the hurdle cross-bar too high in an issue directly related to Turkey. /Milliyet/[13] PKK ORGANIZATION IS IN PANICA great panic afflicted the PKK terrorist organization immediately after Abdullah Ocalan was captured. The PKK's main Headquarters Commander, Cemil Bayik, made a call to the PKK members asking them to remain calm. It is reported that a serious leadership struggle could break out between Cemal Bayik and Osman Ocalan. Intelligence services predict that the struggle will be bloody. /Milliyet/[14] $50 BILLION SPENT IN THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISMIt is reported that Turkey has spent 50 billion dollars over the last 10 years in her struggle against terrorism in the Southeast and East regions. In these areas, arable production and animal husbandry were almost stopped due to terrorist activities. According to the State Institute of Statistics (SIS), between 1985-1998, animal husbandry decreased by 40 percent in the Southeast. It was also reported that every year thousands of people are migrate to the Western regions of Turkey to find jobs. /Milliyet/[15] "POSSIBLE SECRET TURCO-GREEK AGREEMENT"The Italian "La Repubblica" newspaper reported that the US directed the "separatist" crisis in order to solve the Cyprus issue. The report claimed that there would be a secret agreement signed between Turkey and Greece and that there would be a peace agreement between the two NATO allies. It added that Turkey is becoming closer to Europe again. /Turkiye/[16] KENYA: "WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE"The Kenyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bonaya Godana, said after they had learned that Abdullah Ocalan was in the Greek Embassy in Nairobi, they had asked Greek officials to remove him from Kenya. He added, "Kenya is not responsible for and has no role in the issue. The Greek Ambassador to Nairobi accompanied the leader of the terrorist organization on his departure from Kenya by plane." /Turkiye/[17] A HARSH WARNING TO IRAQTurkey and the US reacted strongly to the statement of Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz that Iraq would hit Incirlik Air Base. The Clinton Administration's National Defence Assistant, Sandy Berger, said that such an action on the part of Iraq would be met with a harsh response. The US Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright said that, concerning Incirlik Air Base, they had clearly announced that any kind of action against US military personnel or neighbouring countries to Iraq would be faced with swift, decisive action. /Aksam/[18] OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQAlmost three thousand Turkish soldiers began operations in Northern Iraq. It is reported that intense clashes are occuring in the region and PKK terrorists are fleeing towards the Iranian border. It was pointed out that members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), led by Mesut Barzani, are supporting the land and air operations. Military sources reported that the operations, started on 13 February, are in progress and around the Zaho, Kanimasi and Amedi regions of Northern Iraq. Meanwhile, Iranian Air Force aircraft bombed PKK camps yesterday. It was added that the operations would continue for sometime. /Turkiye/[19] REPPAS: "OCALAN IS RESPONSIBLE"In Athens, Greek Government Spokesman Dimitris Reppas said yesterday that "Ocalan himself is responsible for his capture", and ruled out any responsibility on the part of the Greek Government. Reppas said that Ocalan himself had chosen Kenya as a destination and that the Greek Embassy there 'only helped him to find a compound'. The Greek government is being criticized by opposition parties and backbenchers within the governing Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) because of their policy on Ocalan.Meanwhile, the Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini demanded that Ocalan be prosecuted according to the rules of democracy and law. In addition, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday denied a report that Israel's MOSSAD helped Turkey track down Ocalan. /All papers/ [20] TURKISH VOTERS ABROADTurkish voters abroad will be able to cast their their votes at nine Turkish border gates. The voting, which will start on March 25, will end on April 18. Turkish citizens who are not registered on the electoral registers, have lived abroad for more than six months and are over 18 years old will be able to cast their votes while entering or exiting the country. /Cumhuriyet/[21] TURKISH YIMPAS IN EUThe YIMPAS Corporation has continued its development both at home and abroad. The Chairman of the Executive Board of YIMPAS, Dursun Uyar, said that they had bought a meat-integration facility in Brussels, signed a cooperation agreement with the German Fleisch Meat Distribution Company and opened a supermarket in Austria-Bregenze. Dursun added that they would continue their development in Europe. /Turkiye/[22] NEW POWER FOR TURKISH NAVYOne of the most modern warship, TCG Salih has received her commission in the Turkish Navy. TCG Salih was constructed in Blohm-Voss Dockyard in Hamburg, Germany, using the latest technology to ensure that she could withstand air attacks in particular. She can easily follow 100 targets at any given moment and 160 crew members have been assigned to serve on the ship. /Turkiye/[23] ENERGY SUPPORT IN THE EASTGiant energy projects are to be initiated in Eastern regions of Turkey. One of the biggest investments is in a 1545 km-long natural-gas pipeline from Dogubeyazit, Agri to Konya and Ankara via Kayseri. The project will cost $ 634.6 million and will be completed in April 2000. Meanwhile, BP Amaco had asked permission from Turkey to lay down a pipeline from Egypt to Turkey. /Sabah/[24] 'BREAKFAST CLUB' STARTS TO WORKThe "Caucasian and Central Asian Breakfast Club", established to increase Turkey's commercial and political relations with both Caucasia and the Central Asian regions, held its first meeting in the special meeting hall of the British Parliament building. The meeting was opened by the Turkish Ambassador to London, Ozdem Sanberk; British Minister, Lord Gilbert was the honorary guest at the meeting. Sanberk said that the reports commissioned by the Club concerned 130 million people. British MPs and businessmen, the Ambassadors to London from Azerbaijan, Georgian, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and the Chairman of the Turkish Eurasian Business Council, Tunc Ulug, attended the meeting. /Sabah/[25] LE SOIR: "US WILL CONTINUE TO USE INCIRLIK"One of the leading nerwspapers published in Belgium, Le Soir, stated that Turkish and US interests concerning Iraq were poles apart. The newspaper said that despite all the differences, Ankara would not change her stance and the US would continue to use Incirlik Air Base. The newspaper quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem as saying that Turkey attaches great significance to the political and territorial integrity of Iraq. The newspaper claimed that Turkey was alarmed at the possibility of the establishment of a Kurdish state in Iraq.Meanwhile, the British press claimed that the visit of the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tarik Aziz to Turkey was aimed to bring about the closure of Incirlik Air Base. The Independent newspaper noted that Iraq had threatened Turkey on the Incirlik issue and added that Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit had rejected Aziz's demand. The Daily Telegraph newspaper stated that Ecevit supported the NATO allies against Aziz. /Cumhuriyet/ [26] TURKISH-KENYAN TRADE VOLUMEKenya, which handed the PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey, has an import-export trade volume of $3 million with Turkey. Due to its geographical location, Kenya is viewed as a base for Turkish businessmen, through which they can enter Eastern and Central African markets. A reform package to institutionalize the free market economy began to be implemented in Kenya in 1992. This package has had significant effect on relations between Turkey and Kenya. Turkey exports 26 different products to Kenya. According to data received from the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), Turkey's exports to Kenya totalled $1.8 million in 1996. /Hurriyet/[27] US AGAINST BLUE STREAM PROJECTThe partnership between the Russian Gazprom and the Italian ENI companies to implement the 'Blue Stream Project' has created unease within the US administration. The US has increased its diplomatic contacts with Turkey and Italy. Ambassador Richard Morningstar responsible to US President Bill Clinton for the pipeline project said that his four-hour visit to Turkey originated from US apprehension concerning the Blue Stream Project. On the other hand, Italian officials stated that despite US uneasiness, they would continue with the project. /Hurriyet/[28] EUROPEAN CONGRESS IN MUGLAThe Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Local and Regional Admiministrations' Congress will be held in Marmaris, Mugla, on February 25-27, the Anatolia news agency reports. Mugla Governor Cemil Serhadli said in a statement that 130 people from 35 countries would participate in the meetings. Serhadli added: "Various issues, including the environmental problems of the Mediterranean and Black Sea basins, will be discussed. Cooperation in the areas of peace, democracy and sustainable development will also be deliberated during the meetings".[29] TURKISH-EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION IN ISTANBULThe 44th meeting of the Turkish-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission will be held in Istanbul on February 18-19, the Anatolia news agency reports. During the meeting, the EU partnership agreement, the implementation of the Customs Union accord and the 'European Strategy for Turkey' will be discussed. Views will be exchanged on the economic and political situation in Turkey and the EU, and on the general and local elections to be held in Turkey. The Co-Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Commission, Istanbul Deputy Bulent Akarcali, and the Co-Chairman of the European Parliament, Piet Dankert, will head the meeting.[30] LINN IN ANKARAWorld Bank Deputy Chairman Johannes Linn has met Treasury Undersecretary Yener Dincmen. Following the meeting, Linn said he and Dincmen discussed the financial support options available from the World Bank and technical cooperation between the World Bank and Turkey. Dincmen said that Turkey and the Bank cooperate on a wide range of issues, and noted that he and Linn had discussed World Bank loans to Eximbank as well as certain structural reforms.State Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Ulugbay met Linn as well. Following the meeting, Ulugbay said that the World Bank has been contributing to Turkey's economic development and programmes. /All papers/ [31] KALEMLI TRIAL BEGINSThe trial of Mustafa Kalemli, the former Parliament Speaker, and at present Motherland (ANAP) Deputy, began yesterday. The MP is being tried on charges of abuse of power during the bid for the reconstruction of Parliament's General Assembly Hall. /All papers/[32] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT REJECTS HADEP APPEALThe Constitutional Court yesterday turned down a request from lawyers representing the People's Democracy Party (HADEP) to throw out a case that seeks to have the party closed down. Chief Prosecutor Vural Savas has called on the court to close HADEP alleging that it is connected to the PKK terrorist organization. /All papers/[33] AKSES DIESOne of the most noted Turkish composers, Necil Kazim Akses, died in Ankara yesterday; his funeral will be held in Ankara on Thursday. Akses was known to be one of the 'Turkish Five', a group of composers trained during the first years of the modern Republic of Turkey. /Turkiye/[34] AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTER MEETS CEMTurkish Foreign Ninister Ismail Cem said yesterday that they do not want the Caucasus region change into a manoeuvre field for big states. Prior to his meeting with Tevfik Zulfigarov, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, who is currently paying an official visit to Turkey, Cem said that Turkey and Azerbaijan have special and close relations, the Anatolia news agency reports.[35] "TURKEY EXCEEDED BRAZIL"James Donaldson, the Chief of Ford-Europe, stated that the Ford Motor Company and the Turkish Otosan company continue their model cooperation. Visiting Turkey with regard to Otosan's separation from Ford-America and joining to Ford-Europe, said that they are striving to render Otosan the dearest member of the Ford family. Paying attention to the critical role played by Turkey within the world automobile industry, Donaldson said, "Your country has a well-educated, enthusiastic and young labour force. For my own part you surpass Brazil in terms of growth rates. Turkey is more reliable than Brazil. We want to be among the winners. This is not a compliment but a fact we have observed through analysis. Ford adores the development in Turkey. Our existence here is not a coincidence." /Milliyet/[36] "WE ARE GETTING OUT OF THE CRISIS"Husnu Ozyegin, the Chairman of the Executive Board of Finansbank and the owner of the FIBA Group, said that the increase in the prices of cotton and thread, and the slight recovery in the luggage trade from Laleli are the first signals of the fact that Turkey is getting out of the economic crisis. Ozyegin noted that the rise in prices is rooted in the rise in demand, which indicates that the wheels of the industry are beginning to turn again. Ozyegin said: "There is a strong private sector in Turkey which does not have outstanding debts. This applies to individuals and consumers as well. This is one of the reasons why not many great bankruptcies have been seen in Turkey despite the crisis." Ozyegin also noted that he finds the industrialists' protest against high interest rates highly emotional. /Aksam/[37] OPERATION AGAINST FOREIGN EXCHANGE SMUGGLINGSearching the cargo plane of DHL Worldwide Express, suspicious Ataturk Airport Officials seized 150 billion-TL-worth foreign exchange in two packages sent from Dortmund to Konya. It was argued that the money, being sent to an anonymous person, would be used for the election campaign of a political party. /Aksam/[38] 14 MEMBERS OF US CONGRESS TO VISIT TURKEYFourteen members of the US Congress who joined the meeting of the North Atlantic Assembly in Brussels will visit Turkey and hold contacts for three days, the Anatolia news agency reports.[39] FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....FROM THE COLUMNS....[40] TIME HAS COME FOR ACCOUNTS TO BE MET - BY OKTAY EKSI (HURRIYET)In his column in Hurriyet Oktay Eksi is commenting on the capture of Abdullah Ocalan. A summary of his column is as follows:The capture of Ocalan has solved at least one problem; in other words,the search for a place which would harbour him. He will have to stay in the country where he was born and raised, benefitting from its advantages only to then betray it. This is the last thing he may have wished for because during the day he will have to answer to the demands of Justice and at nights to the haunting questions of babies, innocent teachers, women, and elderly people he had ordered to be killed...He should have understood that he was no more than a mere terrorist in the eyes of the world, when he was expelled from Syria... It is ironic that, had the Italians given Ocalan to Turkey on condition that he should not be executed, Turkey would have had to abide by that condition and after sentencing Ocalan to imprisonment for a few years would have had to release him. Now Turkey has the opportunity to bring him to justice with no conditions attached...The capture of Ocalan is a turning point in the fight Turkey has waged against terrorism. The capture of his right hand-man, Semdin Sakik, signalled the beginning of the collapse of the PKK terrorist organisation. But this most recent development, the capture of Ocalan and his being handed over to Turkish justice, is proof that the nightmare of terrorism caused by the PKK has come to an end. Therefore, the members of this terrorist organization still in the mountains should see this reality for what it is and surrender to the Turkish authorities in order to benefit from the "Repentance Law"... They should prove that they are clever enough to benefit from this law and Turkish officials should demonstrate to the world they they are wise enough to take the necessary steps all Turkish people want for freedom. /Hurriyet/ [41] OCALAN IN TURKEY -BY HIKMET CETINKAYA (CUMHURIYET)The leader of the terrorist PKK organization has been brought to Turkey from Kenya. The supporters of Ocalan who were fed by terrorism in the Southeasern region of Turkey, are angry at the US and Israel while crying at their TV broadcasts from Brussels, and labelling Italy and Germany as traitors...Not two months ago, the European Union countries were preparing to rejudge the Lausanne Treaty. The Prime Ministers of Italy and Germany had initiated efforts to bring the PKK problem before the EU, to be able to try Ocalan in an 'international court'. Research to transfer the problem to a political platform in Europe began five years ago. All countries were providing support and making contributions to build up the needed infrastructure. They were trying to put both political and economic pressure on Turkey..... The strength of the Republic of Turkey has shown itself once more by the capture and tnansfer of Ocalan to Turkey...The Turkish Prime Minister, Bulent Ecevit, called on the militants of the PKK still in the mountains to surrender, during his press conference. Turkey is one step ahead and has demonstrated its strength to the international community. Now Turkey should ameliorate its bad record of human rights, improve her democracy, and remove the imbalances in income distribution...We hope that the European countries have learnt the true nature of the organization from yesterday's demonstrations by the PKK held in Europe....Ocalan will account for the murders he has committed in independent courts. /Cumhuriyet/Turkish Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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