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