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

Revue de Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro de la Prensa-Basm Özeti
There are still more than 20 cases pending against Birdal for making similar speeches.
IHD calls for Birdal's
release
The IHD released a press statement condemning Birdal's return to prison. "The lliD once more demands the removal of
barriers to freedom of expression," said the statement and argued that prisoners of conscience should be released from
prison forthwith.
• The Contemporary Jurists' Association (CHD) also made a press statement saying that Birdal was imprisoned solely
because of the thoughts and opinions he expressed.
The CHD statement argued that the existence of prisoners of conscience was a disgrace for Turkey and that the relevant
articles of the TCK, namely articles 312, 155 and 159, should immediately be repealed.
29 March 2000, Copyright @ Turkish Daily News _
Turkey urges KDP to avoid behaving like a state
• It is reported that the Turkish and KDP delegations discussed lowering the taxes that KDP customs officials take
from Turkish trucks engaged in cross-border trading
Kemal liter
Ankara - Turkish Daily News
The Turkish Foreign Ministry has reportedly conveyed Turkey's concern over the possible emergence of a Kurdish state in
northern Iraq during meetings with a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) delegation led by Necirvan Barzani, the prime
minister of the regional government in the KDP-controlled part of northern Iraq.
Speaking to the Turkish Daily News a diplomatie source said that they had had very fruitful meetings with the KDP
delegation, although both Turkish diplomats and KDP representatives had expressed their views to clarify some
misunderstandings over certain matters.
Describing the meetings as "necessary and fruitful" the same sources said: "we have conveyed our mutual sensitivities on
some subjects, such as a possible Kurdish state and fighting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). We mainly emphasized
that the KDP should continue its efforts to keep Turkey's confidence. The meeting was important for clarifying various
matters."
"We stressed the importance oflraq's unity once more, and we also reiterated that the problems of the northern Iraqi Kurds
should be solved within the territorial integrity oflraq. They said they agreed with Turkey on the matter oflraq's integrity,"
said the same sources.
Asked whether the Nevruz celebration hosted by KDP representative Safeen Dizayee at the Sheraton Hotel in Ankara last
Monday, whieh led to a problem between the KDP and the Turkish Foreign Ministry, had come to table during the meeting,
the same sources cited: "We discussed this subject, but I have to say that the situation was exaggerated by the media. We
said that there were some mistakes in the way the reception was organized. They said they understood our position."
Last week the Turkish media reported that a controversy had erupted between Ankara and the KDP on account of Dizayee's
reception at the Sheraton Hotel last Monday to mark Nevruz. At first these reports were denied by the Foreign Ministry.
Later, however, in the wake of further reports on the reception, the ministry issued a statement citing Ankara's concern and
sensitivity over the celebration.
Meanwhile the TON has learned that on Monday the Turkish and KDP delegations discussed decreasing the taxes that KDP
customs officials take from Turkish trucks engaging in cross-border trade.
The KDP delegation met on Monday with Turkish diplomats in the Foreign Ministry, including Foreign Ministry
Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu and Foreign Ministry Middle East GeneraI Director Turkekul Kurttekin. The delegation
yesterday met Turkish military officials at GeneraI Staff headquarters to discuss security issues in the region.
After the meeting with Turkish officials on Monday Barzani told reporters that they had had a very fruitful meeting, adding
that they had dealt with economic issues as well as political ones.
When asked about the Turkomans, who have some disagreements with the KDP, Barzani said that there had been
problems, but that the two sides had been trying to solve them through regular meetings.
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