Bulletin de liaison et d'information - Institut kurde de Paris

~z
'r""\;. ~..
::ö
~
~
'"0
::0
~
tT1
\
'"0
::0
~
::ö
~
~.
b;
tT1
::0
:x:
8
~
~ 'i:l
tT1>
~
3J
en
~
c.n
~
;:t-
6
~
::0
o
tl
tT1
f;
'"0
::0
ti
;ç;
b;
;:ten
52
0:
N
tT1 ...,
.....
00
00
. Turkish Dairy News
WEDNESDAY,JUNE28,I99S
Gen. JohnM. Shalikashvili defends human rights progress in Turkey
By ugur Abnel concerted effort to see democratization legisla-
. Turkish Daily News , .. . ' tion pasS. " '
. WASHINGTON- General. John M. .' Imposing more restrictions on this valued ally
Shalikachvili, the chairman of the United States will only hInder our attempts to encourage
Joint Chiefs of Staff,.in a letter he wrote to Rep: progress and bring about lasting Change.
Sonny Callahan (R-AL) on June 21, recalled . The Turks areproud people, and respect for'
Turkey's value as a staunch ally and warnedthat the military is a time-honoreà tradition. By withif
the U.S. Congress succeeds in cutting aid to drawing support for them and taking on theroIe
Turkey foralleged human rightsviolations and ofadversary, we lose access to Key decision
"taking on the role of adversary,": the U.S. lead- makers. " ,
ers will "lose acces~ to key (~urkish),decision .' Rece~t progress ..co.mbined with Turkey',s
makers.:' Çallahan.ls the cha!rman,ofHou~~ ,unques.tlOnedstrategIC Importance, should dri~e
AppropnatIons Foreign OperatIOnn1,lOCoffiffilt-. the1Jmted S,tatesto fic~as.e support to Turkey'fi
.tee. . . .order to achieve our obJectIves, not destroy bilateral
relations.".. . . .
'Turks are proud peOplé~
Defending the progress the Turkish Armed
forces had !Dade !~regard to human rights
Issues, Shahkashvlh saId "I have Rersonally
engaged General KaradaYI, Turkey s Chief of
Staff, in dialogue regardmg human rights and
found him to be willing to assist in moving for-
'Ward with new measures aimed at enhancing
Turkish democracy and human rights. . .
.' The Turkish military leadership is baclting
progress on human rights and is rea(ly to make a
'Progress is visible'
In his long letter, Shalikashvili gave the following
examples. of progress in human rights
issues In the Turkish army: .
"The Turkiilb milit!IfYis actively engaging in
efforts to improve human rights awareness
ainong its personnel. Progress is visible in their
newfound willingness to discuss this sensitive
issue openly. .
. Thçy have instituted new rules of çngagement
for all military operations and provided addition- leaders of the House Appropriations committee .
al training to many soldiers assigned to anti-ter- circulated a "Dear colleague" letter )tIStFriday.
rorist operations. Bob Livingston (R-NJ), chairman of ~he House
. While the recent operations in northern Iraq AppropriatIons Committee, Rep. Callahan, and
drew sharp criticism from many of Turkey's Charlie Wilson (D-TX), ranking mem.ber of the
EuroJX:an~~ighbors, evidence indicates that the House appropriations foreign operations subcom-.
Turkish mthtary went to great lengths to protect mittee urged the House members, to. "read
the lives of innocent civilians while destroying . Chairman Shalikashvili's letter. As the country's
terrorist camps. .. most senior and respected military leader, he
.' There has been, in short, significantprogress .makes a compelling case in support of our vital
on the human.rights front." -,' .relationship with Turkey. '
.. Shalikashvili reminded Callahan of the crucial . We strongly urge you to oppose any artlendrole
flayed by Turkey as a U.S. ally in NATO, ments whicll woul