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REVUE DE PRESSE-PRESS REVIEW-BERHEVOKA ÇAPÊ-RwISTA STAMPA-DENTRO DE LA PRENSA-BASIN ÖZETi
wh daily news
Christopher complains about
human rights violations in Turkey
Says Kurds must be included in the governmental process
Turkish Daily News
WASHINGTON- U.S. SCCj,-.ary of
State Warren Christopher said Friday that
the violations of human rights in Turkey did
not help the domestic security situation.in
the least bit. Christo~her made his remarks
during a House ForeIgn Affairs Committee
meeting on Capitol Hill. Chairman Lee H.
Hamilton had asked to hear the secretary of
state's evaluation of the situation in Turkey.
"I have been very concerned about the
escalation of the war in the Southeast
between the Turkish army and Kurdish population,"
Hamilton said. "And I would like
to know what the administration is doing to
urge the Turkish government to stop pursuing
a military polIcy on the problems of the
Southeast and to work on a political
approach, as well, with the elected political
representatives of the Kurdish population."
Secretary Christopher said iliat President
Clinton, "Has raised the issue with Prime
Minister Çiller, and I frequently raised it
with my colleague, Foreign Miruster çetin,
who I was sorry ... has left the government."
When TON contacted the State
Department Friday to get a reaction to the
appointment of Professor Mümtaz Soysal as
the new foreignminister, U,S. officials
politely declined to comment on Soysal's
appointment.
Christopher seemed not to have been
informed yet about Cetin's replacement.. "I
hope, the person who has replaced (Çetm)
will have a deep concern for the human
rights of the citizens of southeast Turkey,"
he said.
A very serious internaI
security problem
The U.S. secretary of state said it was not
an exclusively mili~ problem that Turkey
was facing today. "It IS one that needs to be
handled by reaching out to the Kurds and
finding ways to include them in the governmental
process. And we are going to continue
to make that lX'int at every opportunity.
The response, as I am sure you know, from
the Turks is that they have a very serious
internal security problem. But I have never
felt that the soluDon to those internal security
problems was advanced by violations of
human rights. It is a matter on which I am
not satisfied that we have a fully adequate
approach." Commenting on Assistant
Secretary John Shattuck's recent visit to
Turkey, Christopher said: " I think
(Shattuck) is somewhat encouraged by the
intentions of the Turkish government to try
to address it on a more inclusive basis,
rather than on a purely military basis. But it
is something that's a matter of concern to
me. But I would want to say, also, that
Turkey is an extremely important country to
us. They are in a key location; they are m a
situation where it is very important for us to
maintain a secular Turkey !liat is not intimidated
by the extremism of the Islamic
movement."
Nations that help Iran
Christopher also accused those nations
that continue to deal with Iran of making il
easier for Iran to sponsor terrorism throughout
the world.
"Iran is an international outlaw,"
Christopher said. "Yet some nations still
conduct preferential commercial relations
with Iran or take other steps to appease that
outlaw nation. They must understand that,
by doing so, they make it easier for Iran to
use its resources t~ sponsor terrorism
throughout the world." President Demirel,
who has just concluded an official visit to
Iran as the guest of President Hashemi
Rafsanjani, said that he believed in the benefits
of increasing the volume of business
between Turkey and Iran. A transportation
agreement was also signed recently by the
two countries.
Tom Lantos, commenting on the recent
bombing incidents that are said to have been
staged by Iran, said, "the response of civilized
socIety to terror has been totally inadequate.
Four years after the PAN AM 103
Dombing, where over 200 Americans died,
much rhetoric has been employed but noth-
Saturday, July 30, 1994
ing has been done. It is a terrorist international
moveII?ent supported by Iran, condoned
by Syna, and not resisted forcefully
by the international community.'"
Then, Lantos prese'nted the following
challenge for Christopher: "I wish Mr.
Secretary you would name the nations that
conduct preferential trade with Iran. I wish
you would name the nations that appease
them (Iranians). That is the only way to
focus neg~tive publicity on people who support
terronsm.'
Distress.."