11 June 2001

1. "'Don't be a deaf sultan', evaluating the incident in which 20 guerrillas were annihilated in Bingol, Ocalan said to state officials, "Don't play the deaf sultan." "If the limits of our patience are crossed," Ocalan added, "the uprisings of the people will grow and spread on one side, and on the other, these unilateral assaults will find their response after a certain period.

2. "European deputies call for urgent action on Turkish jail dispute", a delegation of European Union parliament members on Friday called on the Turkish government to take urgent action to put an end to a hunger-strike over controversial jail reforms, which has already left 23 people dead.

3. "Ankara continues to block E.U. Force", Generals turn down British offer.

4. "Turkey and Iraq", Analysis bYuksel Soylemez.

5. "Turkey, Russia pledge cooperation against 'Terrorism' ", Turkey and Russia decided Friday to cooperate as part of a "new partnership" in the fight against terrorism, an issue which has previously strained bilateral ties.

6. "Turkish Parliament passes laws restricting Internet, broadcast freedoms", the Turkish Parliament passed two highly restrictive laws this week affecting the Internet, radio and television in a country that already has only a "partly free" press.

1. - Kurdish Observer - "'Don't be a deaf sultan':

Evaluating the incident in which 20 guerrillas were annihilated in Bingol, Ocalan said to state officials, "Don't play the deaf sultan." "If the limits of our patience are crossed," Ocalan added, "the uprisings of the people will grow and spread on one side, and on the other, these unilateral assaults will find their response after a certain period.

"PKK Council of Leaders Osman Ocalan said that Turkish state officials were trying to destroy the hopes for peace that had blossomed, adding, "If the hopes born for a solution to the problem are not fulfilled, the Kurdish national rebellion will strengthen more than before, spread more than before, and be more harsh than before."Participating by telephone on the "Rews" program on MEDYA-TV the other evening, PKK Council of Leaders Osman Ocalan made comprehensive comments on recent developments in Kurdistan and Turkey. Ocalan also spoke about the May 22 incident in which 20 guerrillas belonging to the People's Defense Forces were annihilated by the Turkish military and the operations being carried out in various areas in North [Turkish] Kurdistan.

Ocalan said that the presence of guerrilla units in small groups in various parts of North Kurdistan was a result of the fact that a solution had still not been found to the Kurdish question, and continued to say the following: "We have small guerrilla groups in the north. These are not carrying out operations against the state, they are not engaging in any type of assault, but despite this, the state is not respecting our continuing cease-fire. As we know, an assault was carried out a few weeks ago against guerrillas positioned in Bingol. And 20 of our guerrillas were martyred. This is important to us. Why are you carrying out annihilation operations against these people who do not pose any danger to you? They are continuing the same mistake again."Ocalan pointed out that pressures against democratic institutions in Turkey was increasing, as in the example of HADEP, adding, "They increased the pressure against HADEP; detentions and arrests are occurring all the time. This shows that they don't even want efforts to be carried out within legal limits."Intifada warningOcalan called on all the officials in the Republic of Turkey, particularly those responsible for the military, to "not play the deaf sultan." Ocalan said that there were attempts to destroy the hopes for peace and possibilities for a solution that had been created by the Democratic Republic project that the party had been developing for the past two and a half years, and continued to underscore the following: "They are fully aware that we are keeping the forbearance for cease-fire in mind. But let me say that this patience has its limits. If this line is crossed too much, then the strength of forbearance of this limit will disappear. One the one side, the uprisings of the people will grow and spread, and on the other, these unilateral assaults will find their response after a certain period. If the hopes born for a solution to the problem are not fulfilled, the Kurdish national rebellion will strengthen more than before, spread more than before, and be more harsh than before. We are once again calling attention to this reality."Ocalan reminded that hopelessness could bring a new, even stronger and broad-based rebellion, as seen in the Palestinian intifada. Ocalan continued to say the following: "We are saying this once again, the path you are following is not the right path. The demands of the Kurdish people cannot be ignored. Don't play the deaf sultan. There is no one left that you can deceive any more. Just as seen on Newroz 2001, 500 thousand people can gather in Amed [Diyarbakir]. Millions of people can rise up. And they are in the midst of a rebellion. No people will be seen worthy of policies of denial and annihilation again at the stage that has been reached. They won't allow it."Sezer's true faceWhen asked what he thought about the two visits to Kurdistan made by

Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer in the past week, Ocalan said the following: "To tell the truth, the Kurds, like everyone else, have been watching Mr. Sezer since the day he was elected. I wonder, can he open a new door, can he bring a solution to Turkey's national and societal problems, or will he not? Therefore, his Kurdistan trip was a chance for the true face of the President to be revealed. But as we saw, there were soldiers in front of him

turn out empty. Ocalan said that even if Turkey, Iran, Syria and Iraq wanted to solve the Kurdish problem, international circles would not allow this, continuing to say the following: "I am not saying let's fight against these international forces, but let's add them to a solution to the problem also. Let's put our problem onto the agenda on whatever platforms there are and debate it with them. That is why we said let's begin a declaration of identity in the courts. Let the door to debate be opened here."Ocalan called for the Kurds to enter politics and diplomacy more, continuing to say the following: "A great role falls to the Kurds here. The Kurdish people must keep their eyes on us. Whoever says I am a politician, I am a worker, must show how he makes use of the day. Take whatever political or diplomatic steps there are. Take whatever steps there are to take on the legal field. The criticism of the people must be intensified here and the cadres must be pushed to work. There is no day for anyone to rest easy. The Kurds absolutely must put themselves onto the world's agenda.

Kurdish diplomacy must secure the foundations of friendship on one side and must carry out the struggle against the international forces that sit in judgeship over Kurdistan on the other. In other words, those carrying out the struggle must take diplomacy as a basis." Ocalan pointed out that politics was not just expressing the right words, adding, "The other legs are organization and action. If these are all found together, then it will be right. Unfortunately, a great number of Kurdish politicians limit themselves with just saying the truth."'If there is no solution in the North, there won't be in the South either'Evaluating the recent debates about South [Iraq] Kurdistan, Osman Ocalan said that, "If there is no solution in the North, there won't be in the South either." Ocalan said that if the conflicts continued in the US's and Turkey's approaches in regard to possible developments in South Kurdistan and the Saddam regime, the two powers could come up against each other. Ocalan continued to say the following: "The US made a military intervention in Yugoslavia, it made an economic intervention in Turkey. In all probability, it aims to deepen the economic crisis even more and bring Turkey into line."Ocalan pointed to the Southern Kurdish leaders, especially of the PUK, coming and going from Turkey, and said: "Turkey is sending them to fight the PKK too. We are warning here once again.

There is no gain for the Kurds in this game. Let the Kurds not fight amongst each other but take steps for peace, no matter who pressures them. They always remain weak before Turkey."Ocalan said that the struggle of the Kurdish people had reached a stage at which there could no longer be retreat and that they should therefore engage in politics at this stage more than ever. Ocalan concluded by saying the following: "A joint policy appropriate to the time could be carried out on the KNK platform. We took many steps in the South. We withdrew our forces from some places; in fact, we didn't even use our democratic rights so that a problem wouldn't arise. Conscience is necessary at this joint and must be put into action in this period. We are especially calling out to the PUK. If they can't make peace, let us not fight either."

2 . - AFP - "European deputies call for urgent action on Turkish jail dispute":

ANKARA

A delegation of European Union parliament members on Friday called on the Turkish government to take urgent action to put an end to a hunger-strike over controversial jail reforms, which has already left 23 people dead.

Daniel Cohn-Bendit, head of the European parliamentary commission for Europe-Turkey relations, urged the government to find innovative solutions to the dispute and open a dialogue with leaders of the hunger-strike. Cohn-Bendit and other members of the commission have been on a tour of Turkish jails which includes visits to the new smaller cells, due to replace dormitories holding up to 80 inmates. The hunger strike was launched in October by mainly left-wing inmates to protest the new cells -- which house only three people -- which they say would isolate prisoners and make them more vulnerable to ill-treatment. "It is not isolation but the destruction of human relations" that comes from spending 24 hours a day for many years with the same people, said Cohn-Bendit, who affirmed his support for larger cells. "Our major criticism is not enough communal life or contacts between the prisoners, and too much isolation," another member of the commission, Johannes Swoboda, said.

But Cohn-Bendit also urged "the hunger-strikers to postpone their death fast. We dont think that the situation in the prisons implies this form of death." The deaths of the inmates have placed Turkey's already troubled human rights record in the international spotlight at a time when the country needs to implement far-reaching reforms to promote its candidacy for European Union membership.

3. - Frankfurter Rundschau - "Ankara continues to block E.U. Force":

Generals turn down British offer

By Martin Winter

Brussels - Turkey is continuing to block co-operation between the European Union and NATO. Hopes are dwindling in Brussels that the blockade will be removable by the time NATO leaders meet there on June 13 or by the EU Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, on June 15.

Britain, informally given responsibility by the EU to conduct negotiations, had made Turkey an offer that ensured it of considerable influence in the event that the EU conducts a military operation using NATO facilities. As sources in Brussels just said, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem would like to accept this offer but the Turkish general staff turned it down.

The crux of the offer to Turkey and thus all non-EU NATO members is their "informal participation" prior to a decision by the EU on whether it should start a military operation under recourse to NATO facilities. This would concede to Turkey and the others a sort of de facto right of veto. The EU thus is approaching a violation of its principle that only the EU decides on EU operations.

Diplomats in Brussels underlined that the EU had gone the limit and that Turkey could not hope for further concessions. However, new problems are looming already. So far, the EU has assumed it could take action "when NATO as a whole is not involved" but US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld made it clear in Brussels Friday that the EU is only allowed to take action when NATO previously refused to mount an operation itself.

4. - Turkish Daily News - "Turkey and Iraq":

Analysis bYuksel Soylemez

It is common knowledge and no surprise that Turkish and U.S. policies towards Iraq do not converge. On the nature of sanctions, intelligent or otherwise. The United States takes a negative stance against the $350 million dollar border trade, which is basically food for oil, and the difference of views exists for the future scenarios of a united or divided Iraq.

Saddam factor

Saddam survived Desert Storm and some 10 years on, he is very much alive and in control. He was declared vanquished and finished. Yet in the eyes of his people he is elevated to the status of a national hero, as he stood against a mighty coalition of powers, European and Arab alike, led by the Unites States.

Unintelligent sanction

Before the intelligent sanctions, the United Nations, inspired by the United States, introduced and implemented sanctions which may now be thought of as unintelligent in hindsight, as they did not produce the desired results.

It is often confessed that big mistakes were made during and after Operation Desert Storm although it was an unqualified military success. Now is the time to reconsider the wrongs and put them right with new openings and fresh policies in order not to repeat the past blunders.

Fact of life

The United States made a simplistic choice once upon a time by deciding to overthrow Saddam. The proof of the mistaken premise is that Saddam is still alive and kicking a decade later. Saddam was an elusive target. Saddam's Iraq is still a hard issue and there are no easy solutions.

A hard case

The United States conducted business with Saddam before the Gulf Crisis so there must be ways to invigorate past relationships, rather then reembarking on a confrontation course however it is disguised. In international politics obviously conciliation and pragmatism is more productive than a win or lose confrontation. Saddam is a hard customer, but given the political will to be discovered and the right policies, even miracles are possible.

Do sanctions ever succeed?

Sanctions rarely do succeed in textbooks, if at all. Heavy-handed policies are generally counterproductive. "Intelligent Sanctions" may be old wine in a new bottle, they were not favoured by China, Russia or France, the 3 permanent members of the Security Council, for their own reasons to begin with. Such a start does not give much hope that they will serve a useful purpose. Turkey is not happy with the "Intelligent Sanctions" either.

Turkey's policy towards Iraq is motivated by common interests intending to reinvigorate once-lucrative business and trade relations and not to hamper them with new sanctions, however intelligent.

Dialogue not diatribe

The best advice is to forget diatribe and try dialogue with Saddam. The United States may not approve of Saddam, they may even consider him as an opponent. Yet there must be room for some practical realism, as opposed to utopian idealism. What is the alternative to Saddam today and scenarios for tomorrow? Even in the post-Saddam period, democracy seems an impossible dream. Turkey's worst fears is the partition of Iraq in a post-Saddam era. Today's "de factor" or quasi divisions become a "de jure" possibility.

Vital interests

Turkey shares a long and sensitive border with Iraq. Turkish and Iraqi Kurds have posed problems in the past. An Iraqi Kurdish entity in northern Iraq is not supported by Baghdad. The best interests of Iraqi Kurds lies in their cooperation with Baghdad and Ankara, and not in confrontation with either.

Turkey's best interest corresponds to that of Iraq: The functioning of the twin pipelines and the flow of Iraqi oil from Kerkuk to Yumurtalik in Turkey. Trade, economic ties, investment infrastructure projects, as before, are also key to political stability. More trade not less, let alone to curtail it, defies all kinds of logic.

Turkey, big loser

Turkey was a big loser in the Gulf Crisis with an estimated lost revenue of $35-40 billion, which was never compensated. What Mexico is to the United States is somewhat similar to what Iraq is to Turkey; vis-a-vis oil imports, border trade, investment opportunities, flow of labour and the rest. Turkey does not and cannot afford to be on the losing side again. As the long and trusted ally and strategic partner of the United States, she deserves to be understood for her vital interests which may be at stake and requires respect for legitimate concerns.

5. - khilafah.com - "Turkey, Russia pledge cooperation against 'Terrorism' ":

Turkey and Russia decided Friday to cooperate as part of a "new partnership" in the fight against terrorism, an issue which has previously strained bilateral ties.

"We believe the necessary conditions to elevate Turkish-Russian relations onto a new partnership level are in place," visiting Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said at a joint press conference held with his Turkish counterpart Ismail Cem.

Cem agreed the two countries had reached the stage where they would work to boost bilateral relations.

In Friday's talks, it was agreed to set up a working group to deal with cooperating against terrorism and improving commercial and economic ties, he added.

A senior Turkish diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said that the working group would contribute to accelerate existing cooperation and eventually lead to an action plan between the two states.

The decision followed a recent bout of tension in which Moscow accused Ankara of turning a blind eye to the activities of Chechen separatists on its soil after pro-Chechen activists successively seized a luxury hotel and an airliner.

In March, Chechen gunmen hijacked a Russian airliner with 175 people on board shortly after take-off from Istanbul and forced it to land in Saudi Arabia.

A month later, a group of pro-Chechen gunmen burst into the Swissotel in Istanbul and took 120 people hostage in protest at Russia's "bloody" war against separatists in Chechnya. The assailants later released the hostages and gave themselves up to police.

Ankara has repeatedly denied allegations that it backs the separatists, but the Chechen cause commands wide support in Turkey, especially in Islamic circles in the predominantly Muslim country.

Concerning the Chechen issue, Ivanov asserted that there was no change to the Russian policy of finding a political solution to the conflict "despite terrorist attacks against civilians".

In spite of the recent bilateral tension, Russia remains Turkey's biggest gas supplier, pumping more than 30 million cubic meters of gas daily.

The two countries have also begun construction of another gas pipeline, dubbed Blue Stream, which will stretch from the southern Russian gas plant of Izobilnoy, across the Black Sea floor, to Turkey's northern port of Samsun.

In response to a question, Ivanov said Friday that the Blue Stream project would be completed early next year in line with both Turkish and Russian interests.

"This project constitutes a significant part of our commercial ties," he said.

When it becomes operative, the 1,213-kilometer (758-mile) pipeline will deliver eight billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey per year.

Also discussed, Cem said, was the question of security at the Turkish Straits of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles where there is a heavy traffic of tankers carrying oil and other dangerous cargo such as nuclear waste.

"We have taken up all questions of interest to our country," he said in response to a question on a decision taken by Russia's lower house, the Duma, allowing the transfer and storage of nuclear waste from abroad in Russia.

The two ministers also signed an exchange program for the years 2001-2003 in the fields of culture, education, science and sports.

Ivanov, who arrived in Turkey late Thursday, was also to meet Friday with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer and Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit before flying to Istanbul to meet Turkish businessmen at the Swissotel, the scene of April's dramatic hostage-taking by pro-Chechen activists.

6 . -Freedomforum - "Turkish Parliament passes laws restricting Internet, broadcast freedoms":

The Turkish Parliament passed two highly restrictive laws this week affecting the Internet, radio and television in a country that already has only a "partly free" press.

A law passed yesterday subjects the Internet to the same restrictions as print media, the Associated Press reported from Istanbul. The law provides for fines of up to $85,000 for Web sites that publish "untrue news, insults and similar material.''

However, the government abandoned clauses in an earlier draft of the law that would have required permission from local government authorities to set up a Web site in Turkey and have forced the owners of Web sites to provide printed copies of the site to a local prosecutor every day.

The law also contains clauses that bar individuals or firms from owning a majority share in a television or radio channel that has more than 20% of the average annual national audience. It imposes fines on channels that violate broadcasting standards instead of the previous practice of temporary closure.

According to the Turkish news agency Anadolu, the new broadcast law also bans any program "that is against the independence and the indivisibility of the Turkish Republic and Ataturk's (founder of the Turkish Republic) principles and reforms."

Broadcasts also may not encourage "violence and separatism" and "will respect the family and moral values of the Turkish nation," according to Anadolu, and will not violate an individual's privacy. The new law also bans call-in television contests.

Political parties, associations, labor unions, professional organizations, foundations, cooperatives, business partners, export-import companies and marketing groups will not be allowed to own a television channel or a radio station.

Anadolu reports there will be heavy fines for violations of the broadcast law as well "for causing a person mental anguish or financial loss" through inaccurate reports on the Internet.

The annual Press Freedom Study issued by the U.S.-based Freedom House rates both print and broadcast media in Turkey as "partly free," noting that publications have been shut down and that "journalists continued to face arrest, prosecution, attacks, and harassment."

The recent annual report on human rights issued by the U.S. State Department notes that the Turkish constitution "provides for freedom of speech and of the press; however, the government continued to limit these freedoms."