20
January 2005
1. "Turkey asks Iraq to act against PKK", Turkey has asked Iraqi authorities to launch legal proceedings against two Kurdish parties, believed to be linked to Turkish Kurd rebels who have been fighting a bloody war against Ankara, officials said on Wednesday.
2. "Turkey says Kurdish population moves to Kirkuk 'unacceptable'", Turkey renewed accusations Wednesday that more Kurds have been settling in Kirkuk than had been expelled from the oil-rich northern Iraqi city under Saddam Hussein's regime, slamming it as "unacceptable."
3. "Zarakolu Gets "Freedom of Expression" Award", Zarakolu received the "Freedom of Expression" Award by the Norwegian Writers' Association He asked that the arrest warrant issued against Ozguden be lifted, that imprisoned journalists are released, and that the Gunluk Evrensel and Birgun are supported.
4. "EU Screening on Turkey, Delayed", Olli Rehn the Enlargement Commissioner of EU announced that the screening process on Turkey will begin on October 4, 2005. EU sources said that the process will be carried out in parallel with the negotiations.
5. "Turkey, Italy’s Alenia To Negotiate $219 Million Contract", Turkey will hold talks with Italian company Alenia Aeronautica on a $219 million contract to buy 10 patrol and surveillance aircraft for the Turkish coast guard, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced Jan. 19.
6. "USA urges hands freed in Incirlik Airbase", US demands for further independence in using Turkish airbases raises public concerns. Dr. Gerger points out that "even the formalities of obtaining permission from the Turkish authorities seems too much a burden for the US military ambitions."
1. - The News International - "Turkey asks Iraq to act against PKK":
ANKARA / 19 January 2005
Turkey has asked Iraqi authorities to launch legal proceedings against two Kurdish parties, believed to be linked to Turkish Kurd rebels who have been fighting a bloody war against Ankara, officials said on Wednesday.
About 5,000 members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a 15-year armed campaign for Kurdish self-rule in southeast Turkey, are estimated to have found refuge across the border in northern Iraq prior to the US-led occupation of the country in March 2003.
Foreign ministry spokesman Namik Tan said the "terrorist organisation" Ankara's traditional description of the PKK, was now "making efforts to politicise in Iraq by using some Iraqi citizens whose support it has." PKK's efforts include plans "to insert into the Iraqi national system some political formations that it can use in the future," he told a news conference.
"We have asked the Iraqi interim government to launch legal proceedings against two parties which we consider as linked to the terrorist organisation. We have handed over to the Iraqi administration the related information we have and we will continue to closely watch the issue," Tan said. The spokesman did not name the two parties.
A foreign ministry official contacted by AFP named them as the Kurdistan Democratic Solution Party and the Democratic Construction Party, adding that they were both registered as participants in the January 30 election in Iraq.
Turkey worries that increased political powers for the Kurds in northern Iraq may encourage them to break away from Baghdad in the future. Such a prospect, it fears, may fan separatist sentiment among Kurds in adjoining southeastern Turkey and plunge the region into a new turmoil. Ankara also demands that northern Iraq be purged from the PKK, but has so far failed to win a pledge for military action from the United States.
Part of the militants have reportedly infiltrated Turkey to engage
in renewed violence, after the PKK, now also known as KONGRA-GEL,
called off a five-year unilateral ceasefire with Ankara on June 1.
2. - AFP - "Turkey says Kurdish population moves to Kirkuk 'unacceptable'":
ANKARA / 19 January 2005
Turkey renewed accusations Wednesday that more Kurds have been settling in Kirkuk than had been expelled from the oil-rich northern Iraqi city under Saddam Hussein's regime, slamming it as "unacceptable."
Ankara is strongly opposed to Kurdish control of Kirkuk, which many Kurds would like to see as the capital of an independent Kurdish state, a nightmare scenario for Iraq's northern neighbor.
Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Namik Tan told a press conference that the Iraqis, the United Nations and the entire international community should take measures against "fait-accomplis that will not contribute to lasting peace in Iraq... and have negative impacts on the stability of the region."
Last week, the Kurds reached a deal with the Iraqi government that cleared the way for an estimated 100,000 Kurds said to have been expelled from Kirkuk under Saddam to vote in Iraq's January 30 national election in Tamim province, where the city is located.
The deal effectively tips the balance of power to the Kurds, at the risk of fanning tensions in the ethnically volatile city, also home to a large number of Turkmens, a community of Turkish descent backed by Ankara.
"No one in the 21st century can subject others' land to illegal fait-accomplis," Tan said, without explicitly naming the Kurds.
"It is unacceptable for groups which object to the wrong policies and practices of the past to commit the same mistakes themselves now, under the cover of freedom, justice and democracy," he added.
Iraqi Kurds say Kirkuk was overwhelmingly Kurdish in the 1950s before Baghdad started a deliberate campaign of "Arabization" during which tens of thousands of Kurds were expelled from the city and replaced with Arabs.
Tan said many people in Kirkuk were now concerned that "some elements are drifting toward a mistake which may have grave consequences.
"They say that hundreds of thousands of settlers are being shifted to Kirkuk and the majority of them have neither personal nor family bonds with Kirkuk.
"The methods and mechanisms of return have been clearly determined. They should be implemented in a legitimate way," he said.
Ankara fears Kurdish control of Kirkuk's oil fields -- among the richest in Iraq -- could encourage Iraqi Kurds to break away from Baghdad.
It fears that it could, in turn, fan separatism among restive kinsmen in adjoining southeast Turkey, and trigger new turmoil in the region.
Iraq's US-sponsored interim constitution defers the issue of Kirkuk's
final status until after the country's permanent constitution is ratified
at the end of 2005 and a census is conducted.
3. - Bianet - "Zarakolu Gets "Freedom of Expression" Award":
Zarakolu received the "Freedom of Expression" Award by the Norwegian Writers' Association He asked that the arrest warrant issued against Ozguden be lifted, that imprisoned journalists are released, and that the Gunluk Evrensel and Birgun are supported.
ISTANBUL / 18 January 2005 / by Kemal Ozmen
This year, the "Freedom of Expression" Award was granted to writer and publisher Ragip Zarakolu. The Norwegian Writers' Association and Norwegian Culture Ministry, each year, grants the award to a writer for outstanding work for freedom of expression. The award was first granted in 1994.
The award was granted to journalist-writer Ismail Besikci in Indonesia last year. "Terrorism laws haven't been on the agenda in Scandinavia," said Eugene Schoulgin, a board member of the International PEN. "We were lazy, but lucky too. We were shocked to see the efforts being spent here."
After receiving his award, Zarakolu expressed that there still are obstacles in front of publishing in Turkey. "We need a change of mentality in the legal system," said Zarakolu. "Universal basic rights and international agreements should form the basis of this change."
"I am dedicating this award to Dogan and Inci Ozguden," said Zarakolu. "They should have their citizenship back." He added that the arrest warrant issued against Dogan Ozguden should be cancelled, and that the imprisoned journalists Memik Horuz, Hatice Duman, Gulizar Kesici, Ersin Sedefoglu, Erol Zavar and Kemal Evcimen are released. Zarakolu also talked about the problems of the "Gunluk Evrensel" (Daily Evrensel) and "Birgun" (One Day) newspapers.
Schoulgin: The efforts shocked us
"Memory and criticism are a whole," said Schoulgin as he handed the award to Zarakolu. "A community should develop both. It is important for the people in Scandinavia to come to Turkey and observe the improvements of the last 10 years."
During their speeches, Cetin Tuzuner, the head of the Publishers' Union and Ustun Akman, the head of PEN Turkey, underlined the importance of freedom of thought and expression for a community.
Protecting the historical memory
Geir Pollen, head of the Norwegian Writers' Union, said "Zarakolu is not only a person who devoted himself to ancient and modern literature, but also to the protection of minority cultures and historical memory, which is very easy to destroy."
Zarakolu, in his series called, "Marenostrum," in 1999, had extensively talked about the Greek literature and was awarded the Turkish-Greek Peace and Friendship Award by the Abdi Ipekci Committee in Greece. He received the "Novib Freedom of Thought Award" by the Netherlands PEN Writers' Club in 2003.
Chronic "criminal of thought"
The Norwegian Writers' Association referred to Zarakolu as the chronic "criminal of thought," and provided some information on his life:
Ragip Zarakolu was born in Buyukada on 1948. He graduated from the Kabatas High School and then the Economy School at Istanbul University. His Doctorate degree was interrupted twice. First, because of the military coup in 1971, and second, when his teacher Tutengil was murdered in 1979.
He began writing for the Ant and Yeni Ufuklar magazines in 1968. Following the 1971 military coup, he became one of the defendants in the intellectuals' case opened because of the first Turkey campaign on the freedom of thought by Amnesty International.
In 1972, he was sentenced to two years in prison for his article titled, "Ho Chi Hinh and the Vietnam War." He benefited from an amnesty law and got released in 1974. He set up the "Belge Yayinlari" publishing house in 1977 with his wife Ayse Nur Zarakolu.
He was one of the founders and managers of the Demokrat newspaper established in 1979 by 36 intellectuals. He remained under arrest for a while in 1982 because of this newspaper.
He was banned from travelling outside the country between 1971 and 1991. He began publishing the "What's Happening in the World?" (L'etat du Monde) periodicals after the 1980 military coup.
In 1982, he founded "Alan Yayinlari" publishing house. He served as editor in theoretical magazines such as "Problems of the World - Problems of Turkey," and "Second Thesis." He wrote for a number of social sciences encyclopaedias. He was one of the founders of the Human Rights Association in 1986. He is also one of the founders of the History Foundation.
Since 1991, he's been writing for the Kurdish media. He spent efforts for freedom of expression, for the acceptance of the Armenian tragedy, and respect for minority rights. He has taken action against anti-Semitism. He participated in tens of local and international conferences.
In his series called, "Marenostrum," in 1999, he extensively talked about the Greek literature and received the Turkish-Greek Peace and Friendship Award by the Abdi Ipekci Committee in Greece.
He received the "Novib Freedom of Thought Award" by the Netherlands PEN Writers' Club in 2003.
He always supported his wife Ayse Nur Zarakolu, who spent outstanding effort for the freedom of thought and citizens' rights during the years 1980-2002, which were the darkest years in terms of human rights. She was jailed four times and stood tens of trials because of her publications and work on human rights.
Ayse Nur Zarakolu was recalled to court by prosecutors even after her death, for publishing a book called, "Freedom Song."
Zarakolu will stand trial on March 2, 2005 in an Istanbul court for his article titled, "None of Your Business," published in the Ozgur Gundem (Free Agenda) newspaper.
He also faces trials for publishing the books, "Reality will
Set us Free," by George Jerjian, and "Lost Villages,"
by Zulkuf Kisanak.
4. - Central Standard Time - "EU Screening on Turkey, Delayed":
Olli Rehn the Enlargement Commissioner of EU announced that the screening process on Turkey will begin on October 4, 2005. EU sources said that the process will be carried out in parallel with the negotiations.
19 January 2005
Rehn said that the screening would take a year and all chapters will be taken up during it. Rehn explained the reason of the delay in beginning the screening process -which Turkey expected earlier_ with political reasons. The EU Commission had called on EU to begin this process in the New Year of 2004. But France had demanded the process to begin after the negotiations, to avoid its impact on the referendum on the EU constitution.
In his address at the foreign affairs commission of EP, Rehn demanded from Turkey to sign without delay, the Ankara agreement so as to include Greek Cypriot in it .
October 2006 will then be the beginning date of the negotiations
of Turkey with EU. The move of the Commission is based on the persistence
of France to prolong beginning of talks with Turkey.
5. - Defense News - "Turkey, Italy’s Alenia To Negotiate $219 Million Contract":
19 January 2004
Turkey will hold talks with Italian company Alenia Aeronautica on a $219 million contract to buy 10 patrol and surveillance aircraft for the Turkish coast guard, Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced Jan. 19.
In return for the deal, Alenia Aeronautica pledged to provide off-set contracts worth $240 million to Turkish firms, Gonul was quoted by the Anatolia news agency as saying after a meeting of the defense industry executive committee.
The minister gave no other details.
Alenia Aeronautica, a unit of Italian defense group Finmeccanica, was one of three companies shortlisted for the project.
The other two bidders were EADS Casa, the Spanish subsidiary of the
European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company, and Canadian Commercial
Corporation Field Aviation Company Inc. of Canada.
6. - Bianet - "USA urges hands freed in Incirlik Airbase":
20 January 2005
US demands for further independence in using Turkish airbases raises public concerns. Dr. Gerger points out that "even the formalities of obtaining permission from the Turkish authorities seems too much a burden for the US military ambitions."
BIA (Istanbul) - Washington urges for greater margin of maneuver in operating air bases in Turkey say military analysts here, regarding recent demands by US CENTCOM Commander Genrral Abizaid.
"Seemingly, even Turkey’s de jure ownership of the Incirlik base and rules of formality are becoming too much of a burden for America," argues military analyst Assistant Prof. Haluk Gerger.
The reactions follow public statements by the Commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. John Abizaid concerning the Incirlik base, in Turkey’s south port city of Adana.
Abizaid made demands towards extending the use of the base beyond what is defined by the 1980 Defense and Economic Cooperation Agreement (DECA) between Turkey and the USA.
Gen. John Abizaid is reported to urge for making the airbase more operational, using it in combating international terrorism, increasing the number of aircraft, and most important of all lifting Turkish parliament approval for cross-border use.
Even flexible "rules" are too much
Commenting on these demands, Gerger told bianet that "the USA sees the issue of obtaining permission from Turkish authorities, even in it’s present flexible form, as an obstacle."
"Yet, the issues around obtaining permission from the Turkish authorities shouldn’t be understood as a relationship between two sovereign states. Incirlik is supposedly a Turkish base but this is only a facade. It seems that audaciously America is seeing this as cumbersome"
Dr. Gerger comments that, through time the use of US bases were tied to certain rules. For example, they could not be used outside of NATO purposes, “but even those aren’t real obstacles.”
"In the past the bases was equipped with nuclear weapons and missiles but later these were withdrawn. Nevertheless they remained as arsenals where nuclear bombs were stockpiled. Of course the authority to use these weapons belongs to the US president."
Turkish government may respond the US demands in two different Dr. Gerger predicts: *They declare that the government agrees to US demands, the bureaucracy ratifies it and refers to it as an "application agreement."
* Or they might bring the issue to the parliament, but this would
be asking for social dissent, the last thing a government would look
for.”