Subject: News!!!
From: Intern. Initiative Freiheit für A. Öcalan / Frieden in in Kurdistan (info@freedom-for-ocalan.com)
Date: Mon Jan 17 2000 - 07:08:13 CST
I N T E R N A T I O N A L I N I T I A T I V E
Freedom for Abdullah Ocalan - Peace in Kurdistan
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17.01.2000
FLASH BULLETIN FROM INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE:
Contents:
1. "We will no discuss basic principles", EU Periodic President and
Portugal Secretary of State Francisco Seixas De Costa visit to Turkey.
2. "We will not allow for Polticisation", Prime Minister of Turkey
Bulent Ecevit in an interview on the government owned TRT television
telecast.
3. "PKK should not give us advise", Prime Minister of Turkey Bulent
Ecevit.
4. "Time to ablosih the death penalty", Secretary General of the
European Council (EC), Walter Schimmer.
- Ozgur Politika / NTV - "We will not discuss basic principles":
The EU Periodic President and Portugal Secretary of State Francisco
Seixas De Costa on his visit to Turkey will have meetings concerning
Turkey-Portugal and Turkey-EU relations. De Costa quoted that "firstly,
a strategy must be put forward and at the same time a specialist
commission will arrive in Turkey for examination activities. Another
thing which must be completed is that reform is needed in the areas of
politics and economy by the Turkish officials".
De Costa also state that the EU is a political organistion which is
prudent to basic fundemental rights and freedom, under theis frame work
is on the side of abolishment of the death penalty. He quoted that "when
opening the doors to the Union the candidate countries, we had meetings
on social and economic steps and technical points. But everyone should
comprehend that we pointed out our basic principles. Any country whom
wants to enter the Union must abide by the these principles and these
principles are not negotiable".
De Costa also answered questions on military politics. He stated
that he had an important part in dicussing this subject. He reminded
that he played an active role inthe military pol in which he was in that
period in military position". He said that the pol was for
democratisation. Spinola whom initiated the pol six months later
resigned and vacated his position to civilians.
After the pol Portugal re-organised and the army moved a part from
politics. De Costa stateed that the present Portugues Legislation is a
model for ther countries. Secretary of the Portugues State, De Costa
said he sees the Turkish miltary as an important integral in the
countriees modernisatioin "together with this under normal handling in
Europe the miltary force is under the control of civil force".
- TRT / Ozgur Politika - "We will not allow politicisation"
The Turkish President Bulent Ecevit stated that the PKK is in the
struggle to politcisation and for this continue we ill not allow.
On an government ownes TRT, Sunday Panarama program telecast Ecevit
in answering questions on the PKK and Mr. Ocalan stated that the "Imrali
island has been used as a political panel by Abdullah Ocalan, it is not
possible to look at this as allowable" he went further by saying "he is
trying to give Turkey some political messages via his lawyers, I would
like to point out that we are not going to look at this kind heartedly".
Mr. Ecevit also said that the PKK has retreated but, we want them to
surrender. They need to disarm. Ecevit viewed the retreat as a move to
become political and he reminded that this will not be allowed. He said
that "this is the real danger" and also that "for this be it the
lawyers, be it Abdullah Ocalan statements are coming out of their
mouths" and they will do what is nessecary to prevent this.
- Kurdish Observer - "PKK should not give us advise"
Turkey's Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit has accused the PKK and its
leader Abdullah Ocalan of trying to exercise undue influence on Turkey's
political agenda and issued a stern warning to political parties and
NGO's to stop supporting such efforts. He said during the moratorium of
Ocalan's execution called for by the European Court of Human Rights
(ECHR), his government would show the "necessary reactions" to any
activities that would tend to promote the PKK's ideas.
Asked by a journalist as to the conditions under which the death
sentence file on PKK Chairman Ocalan might be sent to the Parliament for
ratification, Ecevit said that the necessary response would be given if
there should be observed serious steps toward the promotion and
incitement of terrorism. Saying that Turkey could not bear any more
martyrs", Ecevit charged that "certain PKK circles" had been seeking to
influence the regime in Turkey, and continued as follows: "Even if
certain changes are necessary in Turkey from the standpoint of the
Constitution, the type of regime, and democracy, we cannot accept that
Abdullah Ocala or PKK leaders provide advice on this. It would be in
their own interest for them to remain silent on these topics. Turkey
will determine what should be done on such topics through the normal
Constitutional process."
In a threat to HADEP and a number of NGO's which he termed the legal
side organisations of the PKK, Ecevit said that the PKK and
organizations supporting it should "watch their steps", and charged that
they "tended to see HADEP as an extension of their separatist goals."
Ecevit further said that he hoped that HADEP's leaders would not be
taken in by such "provocations and games".
Asked whether there had been any compromises required of the
parties making up the government coalition in reaching the decision for
the Ocalan file to be retained at the Prime Ministry, Ecevit said that
they had reached a mutual understanding on what course of action would
be most beneficial to Turkey's interests. Noting that they had neither
submitted unconditionally to the request for a postponement of the
execution, nor categorically refused postponement, Ecevit spoke as
follows: "We have decided the matter in the form most consistent with
the requirements of the law. There will be no difficulty from this
standpoint. No one had to compromise anything. After all, no party can
compromise on Turkey's interests."
- (Kurdish Observer) - "Time to abolish death penalty"
Ozgur Politika's Huseyin Elmali discussed the topics on Turkey's agenda
with the Secretary General of the European Council (EC), Walter
Schwimmer. Mr. Schwimmer answered our questions regarding the decision
taken in the leaders' summit to hold the execution file of Abdullah
Ocalan at Prime Ministry, Turkey's present situation and its future:
Q: Mr. Schwimmer, the EC is monitoring the developments in Turkey
closely. How do you evaluate Turkish government's decision to wait for
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to pass its ruling on the case by
staying the execution of the death sentence imposed on Mr. Ocalan
conditionally?
A: First of all, I would like to say that the President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the EC and I urged Turkey to wait for the
decision of the ECHR regarding death penalty given to Mr. Ocalan. For
the time being, things are going in this direction. Our hope is that the
last decision of the coalition would be the first stage to abolish the
capital punishment. The attitude of the EC on capital punishment is very
clear. EC urges member countries to abolish the death penalty, which is
contravening European principles, even though they have not reached the
desired standards yet. Also in Turkey death sentence have not been
carried out for 15 years and must not be carried out after this either.
Q: Mr. Schwimmer, you were the rapporteur on Turkey over the previous
years. What were your determinations and what are the problems awaiting
a solution?
A: We visited Turkey several times as Monitoring Commission and
prepared reports. The proposals and directive projects were issued as a
result of concerning reports. The majority of the problems determined
are still awaiting solution. To solve these problems became an absolute
necessity.
Q: Mr. Schwimmer, which type of solutions must be found for the
problems, which were also previously determined by your organization,
human rights abuses, Kurdish problem, the situation of political
prisoners, including Kurdish Parliamentarians, and democratization, in
Turkey.
A: These problems were stated. At the time being, I am general
secretary. I proposed my suggestions to my friends who took my place.
But, I think the most serious method is to meet with Turkish officials
face-to-face and bring up the problems on the agenda.
Q: Mr. Schwimmer, you attended the OSCE summit (Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe) held in Istanbul and met with
Ismail Cem. Are you optimistic about Turkey to solve its problems?
A: Yes, I am completely optimistic about this issue. Turkey has decided
to abide by the European standards. I am hopeful that Turkey would make
the necessary changes.
Q: A couple weeks ago Suleyman Demirel said, "the recognition of Kurdish
language leads Turkey to division'. What is your opinion about this
issue? Is this type of thinking compatible with European norms?
A: Meetings with state officials on this issue should be arranged. We
have declarations accepted by the majority of our members. These are the
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minoritie and
European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. I believe these
declarations could bring a solution to the problems in
Turkey.
Q: Mr. Schwimmer, there are problems brought by the conflict atmosphere
that has been lived through for 15 years. You also stated the situation
of burned villages in your previous reports even though it was partially
stated. What can the EC and Turkey do to rebuilt these villages?
A: It is not appropriate to answer this question as a general secretary.
But there are EC's proposals on this issue.
Q: How do you evaluate the EU and Turkey's coming closer to each other?
What will the effects on the EC be?
A: I welcomed it. I think, giving Turkey these types of European
perspectives would be positive.
Q: Does the responsibility of the EC lighten up? For example, what will
be the repercussions of a Turkey which fulfills the requirements of the
Copenhagen criteria?
A: Certainly, in fact, the criteria of Copenhagen and EC are almost the
same.
Q: We thank to you for reserving time for us.
A: Thank you.
(Translated by Hanife)
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