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
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Revue <strong>de</strong> Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivista Stampa-Dentro <strong>de</strong> la Prensa-Bastn Öz<strong>et</strong>i<br />
INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1997<br />
Rï Ukraine Quits Iran Reactor Deal<br />
to Iran, a move that has long been a bines for these Russian power reactors,<br />
By Michael R. Gordon<br />
major irritant in U.S.-Russian relations. an American official noted.<br />
New York TImes Service<br />
The cash-starved Russian nuclear es- American officials said the Ukrainians'<br />
MOSCOW - Responding to Amer- tablishment insists the reactor will be might also have been interested in<br />
ican and Israeli appeals, Ukraine has open to inspection and used for peaceful providing other components, like pumps.<br />
<strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d against providing turbines for purposes. The sale is also part of Mo- as well as services, like welding.<br />
the nuclear reactor that Russia isselling scow's diplomatic campaign to nurture Ukraine's involvement in the project<br />
to Iran. closer ties with Tehran. was a major impediment to closer U.S.-<br />
The <strong>de</strong>cision is a victory for Western But American and Israeli officials Ukrainian ties. Officials said it had preefforts<br />
to curtail nuclear cooperation said they feared that the sale of the clu<strong>de</strong>d cooperation on commercial nuwith<br />
Iran. American officials said they reactor would help Iran <strong>de</strong>velop its nu- clear technology.<br />
hoped it would <strong>de</strong>lay the Russian project clear expertise and aid its drive to <strong>de</strong>- Israel was also alarmed. Mr. Scharbut<br />
did not expect it to prevent the sale.of .velop nuclear weapons.<br />
ansky said that the Israeli govemmen~<br />
the reactor. While U.S.-Russian differencesover asked Mr. Kuchma to back out of the<br />
Ukraine 's <strong>de</strong>cision was discussed at a the project have been well-publicized, . <strong>de</strong>al when the Ukrainian presi<strong>de</strong>nt vis~<br />
me<strong>et</strong>ing in Kiev on Monday b<strong>et</strong>ween the Ukraine' s involvement in the project has ited Israel several months ago. .<br />
Ukrainian presi<strong>de</strong>nt, Leonid Kuchma, been less well known. After repeated appeals, Mr. Kuchma<br />
and Natan Scharansky, the Israeli min- A Ukrainian company, Turboatom, si~naled during a private me<strong>et</strong>ing in<br />
ister of industry and tra<strong>de</strong>. was planning to sell several turbines for Kiev on Monday that Ukraine would not<br />
Mr. Scharansky' disclosed the <strong>de</strong>- .tJ:te power reactor, working as a sub- take part in the reactor project. Mr..<br />
cisiol) in a telephone interview. Amer- . co~trâCtor to the Russian Ministry of Scharansky said.<br />
kan officials said later that they had Atomic Energy, according to American American officials said that Mr.<br />
received similar assurances. . 'officials." Scharansky's information was also con-<br />
At the heart of the issue is il Russian "There are only a couple of compa- sistentwith private assurances that the<br />
<strong>de</strong>cision to sell a nuclea.r.power reactor nies, in th~ world that bui~d the big.tur- United States received.<br />
.. -_<br />
. . . .<br />
Turkish Daily News Wednesday. April16. 1997<br />
Turkey-EU JPC kicks otTwith angryexchanges<br />
Ankara-<br />
Turkisl, Daily News<br />
• A two-day me<strong>et</strong>ing of the Turkey-<br />
European Unio(l Joint Parliamentary<br />
Commission (JPC) kicked off in Ankara<br />
on Tuesday with an~ry exchanges<br />
b<strong>et</strong>ween Foreign MInister Tansu Çiller<br />
and the lea<strong>de</strong>r of the European<br />
Parliament's Greens Group, Claudia<br />
Roth, an outspoken critic of Ankara on<br />
human rights issues. Querying how Çiller<br />
could <strong>de</strong>fend womens' rights y<strong>et</strong> remain<br />
in a government where a minister supported<br />
the right to have more than one<br />
wife. Roth, a co-chairperson of the JPC,<br />
was tersely rehuffed by the Turkish foreign<br />
minister. .<br />
Pointing out that secularism was an<br />
issue that concerned Turkey andindicatin~<br />
that freedom of religion and consCIence<br />
and womens' rights were protected<br />
in this country. Çiller said no one<br />
shm.ikl havcany uoubts these rights<br />
would be improved upon. .<br />
"But to question why this or that party<br />
has formed a coalition government is<br />
interfering in our internal affairs. No one<br />
has the right to do that," Çiller said.<br />
"The point at whi~h the. freedon~ of our<br />
friends exl:tausts Itself ISthe pomt at<br />
which they start interfering in our<br />
domestiç affairs." Çiller ad<strong>de</strong>d,<br />
244<br />
with remarks that caused a chill<br />
among those gathered for the JPC<br />
me<strong>et</strong>ing .<br />
Çiller said that Roth' s comments<br />
represented precisely such interference.<br />
Roth ma<strong>de</strong> her remarks in the<br />
"questions and answers" section<br />
after the Turkish foreign minister<br />
<strong>de</strong>livered her opening address to<br />
the 40th gathenng of the JPC<br />
which comprises <strong>de</strong>puties from the<br />
Turkish and European Parliamencs.<br />
In her own opening address Roth<br />
had emphasized her belief there<br />
was a place for Turkey in the<br />
European Union. indicating that<br />
she did not agree with those. who<br />
asserted that Turkey's different<br />
i<strong>de</strong>ntity preclu<strong>de</strong>d such a possibility.<br />
.<br />
Roth also lambasted her native<br />
Gennany for imposing a visa<br />
requirement on Turkish children .<br />
. un<strong>de</strong>r the age of 16, saying this was<br />
nothing but "racism" and "institutionalized<br />
discrimination." But further<br />
escalating the tension with<br />
Çiller later in the day Roth, in a<br />
press statement outsi<strong>de</strong> the<br />
UlucanllU' Prison in Ankara, insisted<br />
she would continue to interfere<br />
in Turkey's internal affairs so long<br />
as there were people in prison who<br />
had been convicted for their i<strong>de</strong>as.<br />
Roth was speaking after a failed<br />
attempt to me<strong>et</strong> fonner pro-Kurdish<br />
<strong>de</strong>puty Leyla Zana who is serving a<br />
sentence in prison after having .<br />
been convicted by the state securtty<br />
court of supporting the outlawed<br />
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)<br />
Roth was seen carrying a bouqu<strong>et</strong><br />
of yellow, red and green flowers,<br />
consi<strong>de</strong>red by Turkey's Kurds as<br />
the colors of their <strong>et</strong>hnic banner but<br />
which the authorities say lfe PKK<br />
colors. Çiller, in her address to the<br />
JPC, pointed out that steps had<br />
been taken to improve the quality<br />
of human rights in Turkey, adding<br />
nevertheless that she did not<br />
approve of the fact there were<br />
authors in prison today in Turkey,<br />
incarcerated simply for their<br />
thoughts.<br />
She said she was happy Europe<br />
was following these <strong>de</strong>velopments<br />
in Turkey closely and assured the<br />
Euro-Deputies that reform in the<br />
field of human rights would continue<br />
unabated.