PM ERDOÐAN CHIDES EUROPE FOR LAXITY TOWARD PKK AFFILIATES
Today’s Zaman
Feb 11 2008
Turkey
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan criticized Europe for failing to
crack down on front organizations for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’
Party (PKK), which he said were operating across the bloc, saying
that a soft stance on the PKK and other Turkish terror groups could
later become damaging to them.
In reference to a decision by a Belgian court last week that declined
to describe the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front
(DHKP/C) as a terrorist group and acquitted its members of charges
of terrorism, Erdoðan said Turkey had difficulties in understanding
how terror suspects are not returned to Turkey despite an Interpol
red bulletin against them or how they could be released by courts.
In the highly controversial DHKP/C verdict, the court ruled that the
group was not a terrorist organization, disregarding complaints from
Turkey and an EU decision to designate it as a terrorist group.
Erdoðan also said the PKK was able to raise money through its
front organizations in Europe, although the group is classified as
a terrorist organization by the EU as well as the United States.
"Despite this, the PKK is still operating in many European countries
under different names. Unfortunately they are being supported,"
he said in a speech inaugurating the 44th annual Munich Security
Conference on Saturday. "What should be done now is to close down
front organizations of the terrorist group, cut its finances, block
terrorist propaganda and engage in more effective cooperation in
the extradition of terrorists," he said, adding that those countries
which fail to take these actions, intentionally or unintentionally,
harm global efforts to combat terrorism.
"Terrorism is not a domestic problem; it is an international problem.
If we fail to stand united against this threat, terrorism will one
day turn against those who support it and hit them like a boomerang,"
he said.
Erdoðan also said Turkey’s military operations on PKK targets would
continue until the PKK is eliminated, calling the fight against the
PKK part of the world’s war on terror. "Let me put it very clearly,"
he said. "We are going to continue until we win."
‘Privileged partnership’ out of the question
The prime minister also criticized European leaders for promoting a
"privileged partnership" for Turkey instead of full membership. "Our
destination is clear: full membership. Sometimes some of our European
friends talk of privileged partnership. We find this ugly," he said,
criticizing EU leaders for trying to change the rules in the middle
of the game. "This does not bode well for justice or the principle
of keeping one’s word," he said.
Iran worries
Asked whether he was worried about Iran’s nuclear program, which the
West suspects is aimed at producing nuclear weapons, Erdoðan said
Turkey was against nuclear weapons but added that it would have
"nothing to say" now that Iran insists it is exclusively aimed at
producing energy.
Noting that Turkey would also soon begin its own nuclear program,
the prime minister said: "We may end up facing the same accusations.
Should we keep trying to rely on natural gas just because there could
be such concerns?" Erdoðan asked. Responding to another question,
Erdoðan said there were talks between Turkey and Iraqi President
Jalal Talabani because he is the leader of a neighboring country and
revealed that there were talks with Massoud Barzani, the president
of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, though at a lower level.
In defense of freedoms
Responding to questions on an ongoing debate in Turkey over whether
wearing a headscarf should be unrestricted at universities, Erdoðan
said the principle of religious freedom should not be compromised
when it comes to the religious freedom of Muslims.
—————————————- —————————————-
Erdoð ;an, Oskanian spar over Armenian issue at Munich conference
An international security conference held in Munich over the weekend
was the scene of a quarrel between Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdoðan and Armenia’s Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, with Erdoðan
accusing the Armenian side of avoiding dealing with historical facts
on their allegations of an alleged Armenian genocide during the last
years of the Ottoman Empire.
Opening the 44th annual Munich Security Conference, Erdoðan also
reiterated an offer he had extended to Armenian President Robert
Kocharian in 2005 that calls for a joint committee of Turkish and
Armenian experts to study the allegations. The call has remained
unanswered by Yerevan to date. "At the moment, the Armenian foreign
minister is also here. Look, I extended my invitation and sent a
letter in 2005. … There is no such thing called genocide in our
culture and civilization. It is not possible for us to accept this,
either. We are ready for any confrontation and are ready to speak
with information and documents," Erdoðan said.
When Oskanian interrupted his remarks by saying "You are speaking
about peace, but our border is closed," Erdoðan continued: "Mr.
Oskanian, look, when I became prime minister, as you know, there were
no air links between Armenia and Turkey. I came, I opened the doors
for airline transportation. Cargo transportation flows from Armenia
to Ýstanbul now as well."
Noting that his government took the initiative to restore a historic
Armenian church in the eastern Anatolian province of Van and that
10,000 Armenian citizens are currently residing in Turkey for work,
Erdoðan added, still addressing Oskanian: "I have no problem with my
Armenian citizens. We get along extremely well with them. Other than
that, more than 40,000 Armenians have come to my country. I wonder
why? You should ask yourself, why did they come? … Because Turkey
is a country of peace." Ýstanbul Today’s Zaman
–Boundary_(ID_OfuxeUglGMfMRDcI6B6Pkg)–