22
April 2005
1. "HPG: 'If the attacks do not cease we will spread the war into Turkey'", according to a statement released by the HPG (People’s Defence Forces) Central Committee, since the beginning of March there have been continued attacks and operations by the Turkish military in Botan as well as within all areas of Kurdistan. (full version)
2. "Ankara girding for ECHR ruling on Ocalan", the ECHR will decide among three alternatives regarding Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan. If the ECHR decides that Ocalan's arrest and deportation to Turkey violated the European Convention on Human Rights, he could be released. However, neither the govt nor other state officials expect such a decision.
3. "HRW Raises Concerns for Threats", the HRW urges that a high-level and public statement be made, affirming the legitimacy and value of the work of human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Association, and condemning the death-threats made against its staff.
4. "Turkey: Protecting the torturers?", grave concerns at trial proceedings in Iskenderun. This is not the first time the Turkish justice system has failed victims of human rights violations, particularly where police officers stand accused of torture and other abuse.
5. "Turkish Dams Violate EU Standards and Human Rights", plans for large dams in southeast Turkey including the discredited Ilisu dam project may yet go ahead in spite of adverse impacts on cultural and environmental rights, according to a new report by the National University of Ireland, Galway and the Kurdish Human Rights Project.
6. "Chief of Staff Signals Crisis With Greece", Chief of Staff Gen. Özkök in his annual evaluation signals soaring relations with Greece. Özkök also indirectly rebuffs the U.S. depictions of Turkey as a "model Islamic country". "Turkey is a secular republic" Özkök says.
7. "German parliament calls on Turkey to face up to Armenian massacre", German MPs from across the political spectrum appealed to Turkey on Thursday to accept the massacre of Armenians as part of its history and suggested doing so would help it become a member of the European Union.
8. "Armenians' national anguish stalks Turkey EU bid", Armenians will throng through their capital this Sunday to commemorate what they say is Turkey's genocide of 1.5 million of their people and which 90 years on is casting a shadow over Ankara's European ambitions.
1. - MHA - "HPG: 'If the attacks do not cease we will spread the war into Turkey'":
BEHDINAN / 17 April 2005 / translated by KNK London
According to a statement released by the HPG (People’s Defence Forces) Central Committee, since the beginning of March there have been continued attacks and operations by the Turkish military in Botan as well as within all areas of Kurdistan. The HPG have confirmed that the Turkish military has sustained losses but that Turkey is not disclosing this; the HPG have warned that if the Turkish authorities do not refrain from their attacks and operations aimed at eliminating them they will extend their insurgency across the Turkish borders. According to HPG sources during the attacks that lasted over 17 days total death toll for the Turkish military has been 121; and 14 guerrilla fighters have lost their lives. The statement further calls on the Kurdish people to increase their democratic-political union and not to stay silent in the face of the intensification of attacks.
In its statement the HPG Central Committee have highlighted that, from the beginning of autumn there have been very dangerous games played in Turkey and Kurdistan. The Turkish government, which appears to be blocked when it comes to the Kurdish question, see ulterior motives behind the democratic calls of the Kurdish people to solve the issue in accordance with the norms of democracy. This has been the stance taken by the Turkish military leadership and the AKP government itself. To this end, they have carefully planned an escalating provocations against our leadership, our populace, our freedom movement and the HPG guerrilla forces. The Turkish military aims to solve the Kurdish question by eliminating the HPG guerrilla forces and has launched intense attacks with this aim. This also shows that the AKP government are not honest in the resolution of the Kurdish question, as they are resorting to the classic policy of denial. The statement made by Recep Tayip Erdogan on his visit to Norway that ‘there is no Kurdish question’ exposed the real face of the AKP government to the world. By his statement ‘we have divulged the Kurdish question to the military’ he has clearly confirmed that they opt for war and have hence unleashed war on the Kurdish people. The HPG pointed out in their statement that, in an attempt to secure a date for negotiations to start for European Union accession, Turkey has passed compatibility laws; that the fact that these laws, which were passed under the premise of democratisation, are deceiving both its populace and the EU has been fully revealed by its current stance on the Kurdish question.
This was expressed in the following terms; “The fact that the AKP government started to turn its back on the EU recently has also been the evidence its mask is falling. It would be unrealistic to expect any prospect of the AKP government resolving the Kurdish question or taking the necessary steps for democratisation. Judging from its current stance, it is clear that it will not adopt another policy nor refrain from its policy of attacking the Kurdish people as if they are enemies. What is also clear is the reality that it is now the military pulling the strings and not the AKP government.”
In its statement the HPG Central Committee pointed out that its losses during the latest attacks have been grossly exaggerated out of proportion by the Turkish military in an attempt to serve its own propaganda purposes. This was put in the following terms; “By exaggerating our losses by two to three times the military is misleading the public and the media, it is deceiving the people. Accordingly, the Turkish media has adopted this information without evaluating its authenticity and thus is endorsing the lies of the military with a view to making psychological war.
In pointing out that thousands of Turkish military forces and village guards were involved in operations against only five HPG guerrillas over two days on the outskirts of Cudi in Botan the following was noted; “having suffered tens of losses to our brave guerrilla fighters the Turkish military resorted to acting in contravention of the Geneva Convention and using chemical weapons and inhuman methods to defeat our five guerrilla fighters. Lastly, the Turkish military has conducted its most intense operations within the Besta region in six years. This operation has ended in a total fiasco for the Turkish military.”
The statement of the HPG Central Committee continues as follows; “with the Besta operations being at the forefront when we look at the results of the operations as a whole, it is clear that the Turkish military has come to a dead end in the face of our guerrilla forces. We call on the Turkish military to cease its aim of eliminating our forces. unless the HPG we will use the same intensity in the face of the racist aims of elimination and spread our insurgencies throughout the whole of Turkey. We call upon the most active and dynamic section of our struggle, the Kurdish youth, not to remain silent in the face of the operations and to demonstrate their rebellion by joining the guerrilla defence struggle for freedom.”
The report published by the HPG Central Committee for the operations during the 1st April and 17th April is as follows:
* The total amount of operations/attacks conducted
in Botan and Amed: 11.
· The total amount of operations/attacks conducted by the Iranian
military: 1
· The total amount of conflicts with the Turkish military: 46
· Use of self defence: 2
· The total loss suffered by the Turkish military: 121 (6 commandos
115 solders)
· The total amount of equipment seized: 12 (1 BKC, 2 M-16’s
cartridges, 1 karnas and binoculars, 1 night vision binoculars, 1 campus,
4 bomb’s, 2 watches)
· The total amount of destroyed vehicles: 1
· The total amount of guerrilla loss: 14
The toll for the Besta operation has been announced
The HPG media liaison committee in its statement regarding the Besta operation stated the following: In announcing the result of the operation that was conducted within the Besta region between 11th and 17th April, the HPG published the identities of the guerrilla fights who lost their lives during the operation. It was stated that, 7 HPG guerrilla fighters and 79 members of the Turkish military lost their lives during the operation.
It was noted that during the operations within the Besta region, in the Siirt, Sirnak and Hakkari triangle that there were special military teams, commando teams and women commandos involved in the attacks. The result of the operation is recorded as follows by the HPG media liaison committee;
“…on the 12th April at around 00.05am during the operations that stated in the Mergumar region and spread to the Gabar Mountain in seven separate conflicts 20 members of the Turkish military and 5 guerrilla fights lost their lives...”
“…on the 13th April during conflicts that started at 17.30 at night and lasted till the early hours within the Serke Biryan, Kanibotke, Çekçeko regions two members of the Turkish military lost their lives when they attempted to trap our guerrilla fights. During conflicts that occurred in about 20 separate sites 2 guerrilla fighters and a total of 34 members of the Turkish military lost their lives, including 1 general, 1 commando and 1 special commando...”
“…on the 14th April insurgencies were initiated at eight separate points within the Sergota, Avyan, Serke Mehemede Uso, Akiri and Osyan regions by our guerrilla forces. During the operations a total of 22 members of the Turkish military lost their lives including 2 generals and the co-ordinating unit itself. The result of four insurgencies is not yet known...”
“…on the 15th April during an insurgency conducted by the HPG guerrilla forces at 19:30pm within the Gire Germava Mountains a total of 3 members of the Turkish military lost their lives.”
“…on the 16th April the retreating Turkish military left behind 18 of their members including 1 general. These members were thereafter searched for by the military with the use of helicopters…”
In its statement, HPG media liaison committee stated that during the operations throughout the Besta region the result of four conflicts are not yet clear. The total amount of equipment seized however, is as follows:
“…along with information, documents and plans for the operations, 1 BKC gun, 1 Karnas gun, 2 Melez type gun and four cartridges, 4 bombs, 1 night vision binoculars, 1 campus, 2 watches and much more have been seized…”
Identities of HPG guerrilla fighters who lost their lives during the Besta operation are as follows:
· Mehmet Sexo (Code Name: Aif Welat) was born
in Suriye, Halep and joined the HPG forces in 1999.
· Muhammed Reso (Bagok) was born in Afrin and joined the HPG
forces in 1999.
· Yaser Tahir (Botan Derik) was born in Lubnan and joined the
HPG forces in 2001.
· Gülsün Akalan (Eser Bagok) was born in Mardin, Nusaybin
and joined the HPG forces in 1999.
· Hiyam Muhammed (Ronahi Afrin) was born in Afrin and joined
the HPG forces in 2001.
· Meral Van (Sarya Hakkari) was born in Hakkari in 1983 and participating
in the HPG forces in the Van, Zagros, Kandil and Behdinan regions.
· Muhammed Ferhadi (Armanc) was born in Saqaz (East Kurdistan)
and joined the HPG forces in 2001. 
2. - The New Anatolian - "Ankara girding for ECHR
ruling on Ocalan":
ANKARA / 21 April 2005 / by Evren Deger
The ECHR will decide among three alternatives regarding Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan. If the ECHR decides that Ocalan's arrest and deportation to Turkey violated the European Convention on Human Rights, he could be released. However, neither the govt nor other state officials expect such a decision.
The ECHR is expected to decide in favor of retrying Ocalan. The ECHR is asking Turkey to take measures against any dangerous public reaction if this happens. The court is also calling on state officials to publicly say that the decision comes from legitimate legal procedures.
The European Court of Human Rights' (EHCR) forthcoming ruling about the Kurdistan Workers' Party leader Abdullah Ocalan, who is currently imprisoned on Imrali island, will agitate Turkey whatever the outcome.
The ECHR has asked Turkey to take measures against any dangerous public reaction in case of a retrial decision. The court also called on state officials to publicly state that the decision is being made within the context of legitimate legal procedures.
Various possible ECHR rulings have been studied by state officials. A report evaluating each possibility in detail has been prepared and submitted to high-ranking state officials. The report lists three possibilities:
- A decision against retrying Ocalan that demands 100,000 euros for the original trial's expenses.
- An order to release Ocalan, on the grounds that Ocalan's arrest and deportation to Turkey violated aspects of the European Convention on Human Rights.
- A decision to retry Ocalan.
The troubling alternative
The possibility that Ocalan's release will be ordered troubles Turkey. Arguments by Ocalan's lawyers that Turkish officials violated legal procedures while bringing Ocalan to Turkey were also included in the report. "The convict was abducted from Kenya, where Turkey has no official authority," claimed one of his lawyers. "Thus the operation undertaken by Turkish officials clearly violates Article 5.1 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The actions of Turkish officials, such as filming the convict with cameras, handcuffing him and teasing and shouting at him, also violated the Article 3 of the convention."
The report also stressed that Turkey should use the case of the Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, "Carlos the Jackal," in their defense. Sanchez was seized by French security officials and taken back to France to be tried.
Legitimate legal procedures
Neither the government nor other state officials expect that the ECHR will choose to release Ocalan. That leaves either the retrial or the option to pay 100,000 euros in payment for the original trial but with no retrial. State officials expect the retrial decision.
State officials are worried about the public's reaction
should a retrial be ordered, and will take measures to prevent any public
outcry from becoming violent or dangerous. Officials also stress that
public statements must make clear that the decision was by an EU body,
and not the Turkish government. The government is calling on state officials
to make clear that the decision to retry was made within the context
of legitimate legal procedures.
3. - Bianet - "HRW Raises Concerns for Threats":
The HRW urges that a high-level and public statement be made, affirming the legitimacy and value of the work of human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Association, and condemning the death-threats made against its staff.
ISTANBUL / 21 April 2005
New York based international rights group Human Rights Watch Express concern for “ recent death-threats directed against staff of the Istanbul branch of the Turkish Human Rights Association”.
Human Rights Association Istanbul branch officials Wednesday made a press statement that they received messages threatening their lives undersigned by Turkish Revenge Brigade (TIT). A shadowy organization linked to the extreme right, the organization had during late 1970s civil strifes assumed the assassinations of left wing intellectuals and activists.
In a public letter addressed to the president of Turkey, and copied to relevant ministries, Rachel Denber Acting Executive DirectorEurope and Central Asia division of the HRW calls for “investigation of the threats, government measures to protect the human rights defenders, and a public statement affirming the positive role of human rights organizations in Turkey's developing society”.
The threats
Istanbul branch president Eren Keskin of the Turkish Human Rights Association (HRA), the Marmara region representative Dogan Genc, and the branch secretary Saban Dayanan were Tuesday delivered letters to their home addresses headed “ Our final warning to the traitor separatists”. The threats were made in the name of the Turkish Revenge Brigade (TIT),.
The letter accuses the three of “insulting the Turkish flag, encouraging armed separatism, and acting as agents of Europe and the USA”.
The allegations and the threats appear to be related to the wave of nationalist violence in Turkey over the past two months. The violence has been linked to supposed insults to the national flag by dissident citizens.
HRW’s concerns
In their public letter, “the threats deserve an urgent and convincing official response,” HRW says.
HRW recalls that “extrajudicial killings and disappearances have claimed the lives of thirteen members of the Human Rights Association over the past 14 years.”
“It is not clear to what extent the Turkish Revenge Brigade is a continuous and distinct organization, but certainly several fatal and near-fatal attacks have been carried out in its name,” they say.
“These include the murders of parliamentary deputy Mehmet Sincar and the journalist Ferhat Tepe in 1993, and the attack on Akin Birdal, president of the Human Rights Association in 1998. These same members of the Istanbul branch of the HRA who have just received threatening letters had narrowly escaped an armed attack by a lone gunman in 2001.
Human Rights Watch calls on the Turkish president “to ensure that these threats are investigated urgently by the Istanbul prosecution service.”
According to HRW, the three human rights defenders have told that they commonly receive threats by telephone but are particularly alarmed that these written threats arrived by post at their respective home addresses.
“It is unclear how the TIT obtained their home addresses, which are never disclosed to the public. Since officials from the Human Rights Association are often required to submit their personal details to the police authorities, inquiries should be made to establish whether or not the Istanbul police passed the addresses on to others” HRW warns recalling “the conviction of a former gendarmerie officer with links to TIT for the 1998 assault on HRA president Akin Birdal,”
State protection
The HRW also urges president Sezer “to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to protect the three HRA officials in accordance with Article 12.2 of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders”
The article calls on states “to take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration.”
The HRW also urges that “a high-level and public
statement be made, affirming the legitimacy and value of the work of
human rights organizations, including the Human Rights Association,
and condemning the death-threats made against its staff.”
4. - Amnesty International - "Turkey: Protecting the torturers?":
Grave concerns at trial proceedings in Iskenderun
21 April 2005
A trial of police officers in Turkey accused of the torture and rape of two teenagers is to resume on Friday 22 April. The two young women have still not received justice six years after the judicial process first began. Amnesty International has serious concerns about the proceedings and will send observers to monitor the trial.
"The repeated delays have called into question the ability of the courts to bring suspected perpetrators of human rights violations to justice," said Amnesty International. "The Turkish authorities must take steps to ensure that all allegations of torture are immediately investigated thoroughly, independently and impartially, and any perpetrators are brought swiftly to justice."
Nazime Ceren Salmanoglu, then 16 years old, and Fatma Deniz Polattas, then 19 years old, were detained by police officers and taken to the Anti-Terror Branch of Police Headquarters in Iskenderun in early March 1999. They say they were subjected to horrific torture including rape, beatings, suspension by the arms as well as forced "virginity tests" by doctors. The "confessions" obtained under this torture provided the basis for sentencing the women to long prison terms.
There is an increasing risk that the case will reach the statute of limitations -- in this case seven and a half years - and charges against the suspects will be dropped. Amnesty International is also calling on the Turkish government to remove the statute of limitations in cases of serious human rights violations such as torture and killings by the security forces.
From the start obstacles have impeded the case's progress. State doctors' reports initially covered up the torture, which led the prosecutor to decide there were no grounds for a trial to be opened. Extensive psychiatric evaluations subsequently corroborated the allegations of torture, so that the prosecutor's decision was overturned. The trial finally began on 14 April 2000, but then the court waited 28 months for medical reports to be forwarded from Turkey's Forensic Medical Institute.
This is not the first time the Turkish justice system
has failed victims of human rights violations, particularly where police
officers stand accused of torture and other abuse. In November last
year Amnesty International highlighted several other cases in which,
despite the Turkish government's declaration of 'zero tolerance for
torture', the courts were unwilling or unable to take action.
5. - AINA - "Turkish Dams Violate EU Standards and Human Rights":
21 April 2005
Plans for large dams in southeast Turkey including the discredited Ilisu dam project may yet go ahead in spite of adverse impacts on cultural and environmental rights, according to a new report by the National University of Ireland, Galway and the Kurdish Human Rights Project.
The report provides new evidence from hydroelectric dam projects planned for the Munzur, Tigris and Greater Zap rivers.
The study, a report of a fact-finding mission to the region carried out by Maggie Ronayne, Lecturer in Archaeology at the National University of Ireland, Galway, demonstrates how archaeology in particular supports the case of thousands of villagers adversely affected by these projects, most of whom do not appear to have been consulted at all about the dams and many of whom want to return to reservoir areas, having already been displaced by the recent conflict in the region....
The overwhelming response in particular from women and their organisations is one of opposition to the negative impact on them and those in their care; yet women have been the least consulted sector.
The reservoirs would submerge evidence for hundreds and potentially thousands of ancient sites of international importance, including evidence of our earliest origins as a species, the beginnings of agriculture, and the remains of empires including those of Rome and Assyria.
The heritage of Kurds, Armenians, Assyrians and others from the last few hundred years and holy places from several traditions within the Muslim and Christian faiths, many still used in religious practices today and some dating from over 1000 years ago, will go under the reservoir waters.
According to report author Maggie Ronayne: 'The GAP development project of which these dams are part is destroying a heritage which belongs to the whole of humanity and contravenes the most basic professional standards. Governments and companies involved with these projects are ignoring its serious implications: the destruction of such diverse cultural and religious heritage in a State with a history of severe cultural repression. Turkey's progress on cultural rights for the Kurds and others has been an object of scrutiny in recent years; the EU must consider cultural destruction on this scale in that context.'
One of the major findings of the report is that there is a new consortium of companies coming together to build the discredited Ilisu Dam which would displace up to 78,000 mostly Kurdish people, and would also potentially cut off downstream flows of water to Syria and Iraq.
The ancient town of Hasankeyf, culturally important to many Kurdish people and of international archaeological significance, will not be saved by new plans to build the dam despite the promises of the Turkish prime minister and the would-be dam builders.
In any case, the cultural impacts of Ilisu are much greater than this one very important town.
From 2000 to 2002, campaigners, human rights and environmental groups and affected communities successfully exposed fundamental flaws in project documents and plans for Ilisu, which contributed to the collapse of the last consortium of companies planning to build it. But the basis for the project this time remains essentially the same.
Kerim Yildiz, Executive Director of the Kurdish Human Rights Project commented: 'It seems that the Turkish State has not learned the lessons of Ilisu: the report finds that a range of international laws and standards are not being adhered to. EU standards in particular are met by none of the projects. The study also shows that while there have been some improvements and legal reforms, torture remains an administrative practice of the State. If this is the climate in which people are to be consulted about the dams, then we can only conclude that any fair outcome for the public appears most unlikely. The GAP development project examined in this study raises serious questions regarding Turkey's process of accession to the EU.'
Contact:
Maggie Ronayne, Department of Archaeology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. Tel: 00 353 91 512298 or 00 353 (0) 87 7838688 (mobile) Email: maggie.ronayne@nuigalway.ie
Kerim Yildiz / Rochelle Harris, Kurdish Human Rights
Project, London, Tel: +44 (0)207 287-2772. Email: khrp@khrp.org
Url: http://www.khrp.org/
6. - Bianet - "Chief of Staff Signals Crisis With Greece":
Chief of Staff Gen. Özkök in his annual evaluation signals soaring relations with Greece. Özkök also indirectly rebuffs the U.S. depictions of Turkey as a "model Islamic country". "Turkey is a secular republic" Özkök says.
ISTANBUL / 21 April 2005
Turkish Chief of Staff General Hilmi Özkök calls for an official apology from Greece regarding a recent ‘flag crisis’, during his annual evaluation speech at the Military Academy alongside striking statements on such topics as democracy and Islam, Iraq, relations with Armenia, the Cyprus issue, the Kurdish armed insurgent group PKK and the European Union
Recently, a diplomatic crisis erupted between Turkey and Greece when visiting military students from Turkey found torn ot Turkish flags in their dormitories where they were officially hosted. The students were immediately ordered to return. Özkök, insisted to hear an official apology from Greece “Or,” he said “our relations will inevitably be revised”.
In his speech, Özkök also reacted against recent depictions particularly by the successive U. S. Secrataries of State Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice of Turkey as a “model Islamic country” merging democracy and “moderate Islam”.
”We are neither an Islamic country nor an Islamic state,” told Özkök. “We are a secular democratic republic.”
The other major issues voiced by General Özkök in his speech were that:
* The Aegean: Greece’s defense expenditures raise doubts.
* Iraq: Kirkuk is ready to erupt.
* The Kurdish question and the PKK: The US is not sensitive enough for Turkish demands.
* Armenia: Their attitude is dubious.
* The European Union: Membership is not a blessing.
Gen. Özkök started his speech by discussing Turkey’s presumed role in the Washington sponsored Greater Middle East Project. He said that albeit it is being viewed as a “model of moderate Islam” within the framework of this project, “Turkey is neither an Islamic state, nor an Islamic nation”. Özkök stated that even though “almost the 99.9 % of the population” are Muslims Turkey is a “secular, lawful state”.
The Chief of Staff added that secularism and laicism are inseparable parts of the history of Turkish Republic, and they are the catalysts in building, as well as maintaining, democracy in Turkey. Therefore, Özkök affirmed, “it is a mistake to believe that any country with a predominantly Muslim population can follow Turkey’s path and become democratic”.
The head man of the Turkish Army believes that there can even be a “national rebellion” if Turkey’s experience is imposed upon another country.
Greece must issue an official apology
Özkök also spoke about the ‘flag crisis’ that Turkish military students faced in Greece. He said that “confidence building measures were taken between the two countries,”, but the damaged flags incident in Greece “requires an official apology”. Özkök underlined that if an apology is omitted, “the relations between the two countries can be revised.”
According to Özkök, Greece’s defense expenditures top the military expenses list among the European Union countries, and that the Aegean Islands are still being heavily armed. The Chief of Staff said that Turkey allots 154 dollars of its gross national income per capita for military expenses, whereas this figure is 709 dollars in Greece. Despite his criticisms towards Greece, Özkök affirmed that they regard ameliorating the relations between two countries as a priority.
Armenia
Gen. Özkök also spoke about the relations with Armenia, an issue that tops the agenda of Turkey recently. They desire to “normalize” the affairs between Turkey and Armenia, he told. However, he assessed “obedience to fundamental principles of international law and execution of the requirements of friendly neighborhood” on Armenia’s behalf is necessary for achieving this result.
Özkök also touched upon the issue of the claims of “Armenian Genocide”. The Chief of Staff stated that “many Turkish and Armenian citizens of the Ottoman Empire were killed in the events 1915 incidents”, but the Republic of Turkey is not liable for any of the events, and this era was closed by the 1924 Lausanne Peace Treaty what imposes no responsibility on Turkey in that respect. Further, “most of the deaths on the side of the Armenians were not by intention, but as a result of the mass deportation; hence, genocide did not take place,” he argued.
Cyprus is still strategically important
During his annual evaluation speech Özkök spoke about the Cyprus issue, as well. According to the Chief of Staff, Cyprus is still important for Turkey’s security and thus, “is a necessity” for the country.
The Chief of Staff pointed out that Turkish Cypriots signaled their intention of unity in the Island with the votes they cast in the referendum for the “Annan Peace Plan”. “So”, Özkök said “new gestures should not be expected from Turkey”.
The US gives the cold shoulder about the PKK
Saying that the US did not take the necessary steps to combat Kurdish armed insurgent group PKK based in Northern Iraq, Özkök confirmed that the situation remains tense in the region with the “surging attacks on the Turkish military”.
The EU membership is not vital
According to the Chief Staff, the EU membership should
not be viewed as a “blessing”. Özkök says that in
the relations with the EU, “mutual benefits are at stake”,
but “it is not the end of the world” if Turkey cannot become
a member of the EU.
7. - AFP - "German parliament calls on Turkey
to face up to Armenian massacre":
BERLIN / 21 April 2005
German MPs from across the political spectrum appealed to Turkey on Thursday to accept the massacre of Armenians as part of its history and suggested doing so would help it become a member of the European Union.
Armenia says up to 1.5 million of its people were slaughtered between 1915 and 1917 as the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey, was falling apart.
Turkey counters that 300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were killed in "civil strife" during World War I when the Armenians rose against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.
During an often impassioned debate in the German Bundestag lower house of parliament, Friedbert Pflueger, the foreign affairs specialist for the opposition Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said: "Turkey should face up to the truth."
However he said putting pressure on Turkey would not lead to Ankara recognising what had happened.
"We do not want to incriminate and we do not want to embellish," Pflueger added.
Fritz Kuhn of the Greens, which form the governing coalition with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats, said the debate had taken on increased importance because "we want Turkey to be an EU member one day".
Turkey is set to start EU accession talks on October 3.
The French parliament adopted a controversial law in 2001 which states that "France publicly recognises the Armenian genocide."
Armenia will commemorate the 90th anniversary of the massacres
this weekend.
8. - Reuters - "Armenians' national anguish stalks
Turkey EU bid":
YEREVAN / 21 April 2005 / by Hasmik Mkrtchian*
Armenians will throng through their capital this Sunday to commemorate what they say is Turkey's genocide of 1.5 million of their people and which 90 years on is casting a shadow over Ankara's European ambitions.
Armenians say their kin were systematically exterminated by Ottoman Turkey's rulers during and soon after World War One and that modern Turkey ought to recognise that as a genocide. Ankara refuses, saying there was no plan to wipe out Armenians.
It is an old debate but the Oct. 3 date for the start of Turkey's talks on entry to the European Union has put the issue -- and this tiny ex-Soviet republic on Turkey's eastern border -- onto the European political map.
"I have no doubt the question of genocide will be on the agenda for the talks between the EU and Turkey," said Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan.
"We, of course, would like the EU to put (recognition) forward as a condition," said Oskanyan, who grew up in Syria after his family fled their home in southern Turkey.
The problem for Ankara is that some European politicians -- notably in France, home to an influential, 400,000-strong Armenian emigre community -- agree with him.
NATIONAL SECURITY
A Christian nation of 3.2 million people almost encircled by hostile neighbours, Armenia says persuading Turkey to own up to genocide is an issue of national security.
"Without recognition of the fact of genocide and an admission (from Turkey) that it was wrong, we cannot trust our neighbour, which has a tangible military weight," said Oskanyan.
Armenia nervously eyes its neighbour -- home to the biggest army in NATO after the United States -- across a 355-km (220-mile) frontier that zigzags through the snow-topped Caucasus mountains.
The two countries have no diplomatic relations and Turkey shut the border in 1993 out of solidarity with Turkish-speaking ally Azerbaijan, which was then fighting a territorial war with Armenia.
Meanwhile, the simmering conflict with Azerbaijan fuels suspicion of Turkey. Ankara helps train Azeri troops, which still exchange occasional potshots with Armenian forces across a tense cease-fire line.
But security aside, Armenians see the events of 90 years ago as a national tragedy that they want the world -- and Turkey in particular -- to acknowledge.
Armenia, supported by many Western historians, says between 1915 and 1923 up to 1.5 million Armenians were either killed or died from disease and starvation as an intended result of forced relocations implemented by Turkey's nationalist government.
Most Turkish historians say Armenian nationalists sided with Russian troops when they invaded eastern Turkey. Many died, Turkey says, but they were the victims of a war, not genocide.
Organisers of this Sunday's anniversary in Yerevan say 1.5 million people -- representing the number Armenians say died -- will converge on a memorial to the victims, a granite obelisk on a hill overlooking the city.
Marianna Yeremyants, a 50-year-old Yerevan resident, said she would be joining the procession.
"When he was defending his plans (to exterminate the Jews) Hitler said: 'Who remembers the Armenian victims?'" said Yeremyants.
"Maybe, if the Armenian genocide had been condemned right away, there would not have been a Holocaust," she said.
*(Additional reporting by Gareth Jones in Ankara and Timothy Heritage in Paris)