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 <strong>de</strong> Presse-Press Review-Berhevoka Çapê-Rivi~ta Stampa-Dentro <strong>de</strong> la Prensa-Baszn Öz<strong>et</strong>i<br />
Turkish Daily News January 5, 2001<br />
Ecevit: Stay on guard against PKK<br />
Speaking on the Dogus Group's NTV television news channel Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said that the Kurdistan<br />
Workers Party (PKK) separatist terrorist organization may be a spent force in Turkey but it still has men un<strong>de</strong>r arms<br />
just across the bor<strong>de</strong>r and could start fresh ventures into Turkey at any moment and warned Turkey to be on its<br />
guard, the Anatolia news agency reported yesterday.<br />
Ecevit pointed out in his interview with NTV's Ankara correspon<strong>de</strong>nt Murat Akgun when asked wh<strong>et</strong>her it<br />
would be possible to lift the state of Emergency Rule in the four provinces where it is still being applied, that<br />
as prime minister he had to treat the matter with great circumspect due to the <strong>de</strong>licate geopolitical situation<br />
Turkey found itself in.<br />
Still on the subject of terrorism, Akgun asked wh<strong>et</strong>her in the aftermath of the terrorist bombing of the Sisli<br />
police headquarters in Istanbul Turkey could expect a new wave of terrorist violence? Ecevit replied he did not<br />
expect such a thing adding: "Those who practically occupied the prisons during the latest prison inci<strong>de</strong>nts do<br />
have men on the outsi<strong>de</strong> as well. These individuals could take it upon themselves to react in some way." He<br />
ad<strong>de</strong>d that those who run the terrorist organizations in the prisons are being protected by allegedly respectable<br />
circles in Europe and he held these people accountable for the recent events. Ecevit said: "Ido not expect wi<strong>de</strong>spread<br />
actions. We have seen they are no match for the state. The PKK is not seen to be effective, Hizbullah has<br />
collapsed, but people in <strong>de</strong>sperate situations do <strong>de</strong>sperate things." Furthermore he criticized the obvious lack<br />
of security measures at Sisli police headquarters. "There was serious neglect there, I hope it won't be repeated,"<br />
he said.<br />
Staying on the subject of prisons, Ecevit spoke about the <strong>de</strong>ath fasts being held in or<strong>de</strong>r to bring reform to<br />
the prison system. "These are acts of grave irresponsibility," said Ecevit, "These young people are doing themselves<br />
a great disservice, a great injustice. We do not want them to kill them. On the contrary, we have spent<br />
weeks struggling to prevent them from killing themselves. I only hope they can realize the futility of their<br />
actions. Those controlling them are abroad and living it up in saf<strong>et</strong>y while using the boys here as tools." He<br />
called upon the prisoners families, intellectuals and Non governmental organization's (NGO's) to step up their<br />
warnings to the prisoners and ad<strong>de</strong>d he did not want to see the prisons become terrorist headquarters again.<br />
Akgun went on to ask Ecevit about the National Program Turkey is drawing up in response to the European<br />
Union's (EU) Accession Partnership Document and asked wh<strong>et</strong>her it would be ready by the end of January. He<br />
also asked wh<strong>et</strong>her any consensus had been reached on matter such as the civilianizing of the National Security<br />
Council (MGK) and the abolition of the <strong>de</strong>ath penalty. Ecevit replied: "Wehave not got into the finer <strong>de</strong>tails y<strong>et</strong>.<br />
There is perfect harmony within the coalition. However, nobody's <strong>de</strong>mands conform entirely with everyone<br />
else's. Democracy is a regime based on consensus. We continue to reach a consensus most successfully all the<br />
time. I am very hopeful, y<strong>et</strong> I know we cannot solve everything in one move. L<strong>et</strong>'s take the issue of Kurdish<br />
television for example. If Turkey was in the same position as Denmark, Germany, Holland or another<br />
Scandinavian country, there would not be any problem here, but Turkey is faced with a serious separatist movement.<br />
When this movement realized they could not g<strong>et</strong> their way through force of arms they embarked on a<br />
political path instead. This quite naturally disturbs certain circles. They have serious reservations when it comes<br />
to making exceptions over languages, radio and television.<br />
"It is clear that not only our immediate neighbors but also our slightly more distant ones in Western and<br />
Northern Europe are harboring <strong>de</strong>signs on Turkey that are far from congenial. These countries are where the<br />
allies of those wishing to break Turkey up live. They may not actually be within the governments, but they are<br />
there none the less. Our friends in the West have to be ma<strong>de</strong> aware of this and remin<strong>de</strong>d what their responsibilities<br />
are."<br />
On the subject of wh<strong>et</strong>her the National Program would be introduced by the Cabin<strong>et</strong> or by national consensus<br />
through Parliament, Ecevit said this would be <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d next week when the party lea<strong>de</strong>rs me<strong>et</strong>. When asked<br />
his i<strong>de</strong>a regarding a calendar for Turkey's eventual full membership of the EU should the National Program<br />
prove unsatisfactory to the EU, Ecevit said it was too soon to predict such things.<br />
* * * * *<br />
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