14 December 2006

1. "Turkish Lawyer's Hunger Strike Closing to Death", as lawyer Behic Asci reaches 243rd day in hunger strike for the for the abolition of isolation practices in F-type facilities, writers, activists and NGOs come together to make a call to the government to end denial. 122 people died since 2000 in strike.

2. "Ralston, Baser agree on timeline for PKK fight", Turkey's Special Envoy for countering the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Edip Baser and his U.S. counterpart Joseph Ralston agreed on Monday to set up a timeline for the fight against the Kurdish rebel group.

3. "No early elections Turkish PM vows", local media reported that President Sezer had spoken of his support for early national elections before the parliament voted to elect a new president in May.

4. "Turkey, Mass Grave and the Three Monkeys", approximately two months ago a mass grave with remains after murdered Assyrians was found outside the village of Dara in south-eastern Turkey.

5. "Turkish PM slams EU decision, vows more reforms", Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday condemned a decision by the European Union to partially suspend his country's accession talks but vowed to press on with reforms aimed at preparing Ankara for membership.

6. "Bush, Kurds, discuss Iraq strategy", US President George W. Bush on Wednesday discussed the way forward in Iraq with its two top Kurd leaders as he ended a round of high-profile consultations on overhauling his war-fighting strategy.

1. - Bianet - "Turkish Lawyer's Hunger Strike Closing to Death":

As lawyer Behic Asci reaches 243rd day in hunger strike for the for the abolition of isolation practices in F-type facilities, writers, activists and NGOs come together to make a call to the government to end denial. 122 people died since 2000 in strike.

ISTANBUL / 13 December 2006

Lawyer Behic Asci, who pursues a hunger strike since April 5 for the abolition of isolation practices in F-type imprisonment facilities, criticizes news that he's linked to a far-leftist group as "provocative".

Already 122 people died at hunger strike since the introduction of the F-type facilities in December 2000.

The protesters demand partial improvements in existing practices while government forms a work group with NGOs and experts for a definitive solution to the problem.

Turkey's Human Rights Foundation (TIHV) report showed many prisoners suffer from psychological trauma and distress resulting from the isolation policies in facilities.

NGOs mobilize for support

The Bar Association of Istanbul made a statement today calling the government to end denial and save their colleagues from death.

Several NGOs, workers' unions, intellectuals and artists came together last week to make a call to the Minister of Justice to act before Ahci's strike reaches to its evident end.

Union of Turkish Doctors (TTB) chair Gencay Gürsoy said that the government is insisting on a policy of denial.

Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) general secretary Suleyman Celebi noted that a democratization process, which would allow different thought to exist in Turkey must continue.

The platform, including writers, artists and academics made a declaration demanding an execution system compatible with international standards.

2. - The New Anatolian - "Ralston, Baser agree on timeline for PKK fight":

BERLIN / 13 December 2006

Turkey's Special Envoy for countering the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Edip Baser and his U.S. counterpart Joseph Ralston agreed on Monday to set up a timeline for the fight against the Kurdish rebel group.

The agreement was reached during a meeting of the envoys in Germany.

Under the agreement, a timeline was set for all efforts, including the U.S.' call on PKK militants to surrender, the stopping of all activities of the rebel group taking place in Iraq and other countries, the curbing of the financial resources of the PKK and the capturing of militants and their extradition to Turkey.

The development was praised by Ankara as a concrete step in the fight against the PKK.

3. - NTV/MSNBC - "No early elections Turkish PM vows":

Local media reported that President Sezer had spoken of his support for early national elections before the parliament voted to elect a new president in May.

ANKARA / 13 December 2006

Turkey’s Prime Minister has again ruled out the possibility of calling an early general election.

Responding to media reports that President Ahmet Necdet Sezer had said it would be appropriate for the nation to go to the polls in April, a month before his term was due to expire, Prime Minister Recep Tayip Erdogan said on Wednesday there was no reason for an early ballot to be called.

“This parliament will conduct the presidency election as scheduled,” Erdogan said. There have been calls from the opposition for an early general election, in part in response to the fact that Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has a near two thirds majority in the parliament, putting it in the position to select the next president.

Erdogan said that he did not believe that Sezer has called for early polls. “I will not believe in such things unless I hear them from Mr. President himself,” Erdogan said. “We are the ruling party and have 355 seats in the parliament,” he continued. “Therefore, we have the power to make any decision in the parliament if there is such a problem. We do not think of taking any steps right now which may have a negative impact on the markets.”

4. - Eastern Star News Agency - "Turkey, Mass Grave and the Three Monkeys":

12 December 2006 / by Dikran Ego

Approximately two months ago a mass grave with remains after murdered Assyrians was found outside the village of Dara in south-eastern Turkey. The remains are from some of the Assyrians that were murdered by the Turkish military and by local Kurdish clans during the genocide against the Assyrians during the First World War.

Leading Turkish politicians, like Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have time after time “ensured” the world: “Turkish archives are open, we have nothing to hide ".

The discovery of this mass grave has put the Turkish politicians and other parts of the society in a condition unable to take action. The “assurances” which Turkish politicians have given so frankly are after the discovery of the mass grave nothing but a memory. Almost two months have passed, but the leading politicians in Turkey have still not commented the discovery of a mass grave with remains after murdered Assyrians from the genocide during the First World War. The silence is total and evident.

The only reaction from official Turkey was to give the military strict orders and to declare the area where the mass grave was found as a strictly prohibited area. The Turkish military has also declared the area as a military area. Turkish military historians try to explain the discovery with theories about the mass grave being a “mountain grave” from the late Byzantine era. What these “historians” do not realize is that they with these statements make fools of themselves and show very low credibility.

They few pictures that were taken of the mass grave show something entirely different. It can be clearly seen that the bodies are gathered in a heap and that the skulls are crushed with considerable violence.

The discovery of the mass grave has put the whole of Turkey in a shock condition. The inability to take action is obvious and has, like a virus, hit Turkey in general and the Turkish media in particular. The condition of the Turkish society can be resembled with the simile about “the three monkeys” which do not want to see, nor to listen or to speak.

The only magazine that has broken this taboo and the silence is NOKTA.

In the last issue of the magazine NOKTA publishes an article about the mass grave and interviews the chairman of the forensic medical faculty at Istanbul University, Prof. Sebnem Korur Financý. Financý says that if Turkey is ready to face its history, the discovery of the mass grave and the genocide against the Assyrians during the First World War must be discussed without prejudice.

Furthermore Financi says: So far, the authorities’ unwillingness to listen, to see and to speak about the question has been an attempt to keep this from spreading so that nobody will know anything about the genocide. Actually, this mass grave gives us an invaluable occasion to release ourselves from today's and yesterdays' dark history, which otherwise will overshadow the tomorrow.

5. - Reuters - "Turkish PM slams EU decision, vows more reforms":

ANKARA / 13 December 2006 / by Hidir Goktas

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday condemned a decision by the European Union to partially suspend his country's accession talks but vowed to press on with reforms aimed at preparing Ankara for membership.

EU foreign ministers decided on Monday evening to suspend Turkey's accession talks in eight of the 35 chapters, or policy areas, into which the process is divided following Ankara's continued refusal to open its ports to traffic from Cyprus.

"This decision is unfair to Turkey ... Despite our efforts, Turkey-EU relations are passing through a serious test," Erdogan told members of his ruling AK Party.

"Our reform process will continue with the same decisiveness," said Erdogan, whose government has pushed through a heavy programme of political, social and economic reform in a bid to meet EU demands.

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said the EU ministers' decision betrayed "a lack of vision".

EU debate over 'punishing' Turkey mirrors deeper-running differences within the bloc over the desirability of admitting a large, relatively poor and predominantly Muslim country. France and Austria, among others, view Turkey's candidacy sceptically, while Britain backs membership as an important strategic move.

In encouraging news for Ankara, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Tuesday the bloc was ready to open new negotiating chapters with Turkey soon.

"Turkey is ready to proceed as soon as possible ... with the opening of chapters for which technical preparations have been completed," Rehn told a news conference in Strasbourg, France.

Separately, EU sources said current EU president Finland hoped to restart talks before the end of the year, possibly on the economic and monetary affairs chapter.

CYPRUS

On the vexed Cyprus issue, Erdogan sounded a defiant note, saying Turkey would take no unilateral moves to resolve the row.

Last week, Turkey had mooted the possibility of opening one port to Cypriot shipping for one year, on unilateral basis. His latest remarks suggested that proposal no longer stood.

Turkey has no diplomatic relations with Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, and instead backs breakaway Turkish Cypriots in the north of the divided Mediterranean island.

Ankara says it will not open its ports to the Greek Cypriots until the EU lifts trade restrictions against the Turkish Cypriots, a move so far blocked by Cyprus.

Turkish financial markets ended narrowly mixed as investors digested the full impact of the EU decision amid a general sense of relief that the EU had not punished Ankara more.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the decision should be seen as a message of encouragement to reformers and democrats in Turkey, because the EU was pressing for progress on freedom of expression and human rights.

Deniz Baykal, head of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), accused the government of mishandling EU ties.

"Despite this government being ready to make every kind of concession in EU relations, we have reached this stage of deadlock... Lots of talking has brought us to a quick divorce," Baykal told his centre-left but nationalist-minded CHP.

Turkey began EU entry talks barely 15 months ago but is not expected to join the wealthy bloc for many years, if ever. Polls show support for EU membership falling here.

6. - AFP - "Bush, Kurds, discuss Iraq strategy":

WASHINGTON / 13 December 2006

US President George W. Bush on Wednesday discussed the way forward in Iraq with its two top Kurd leaders as he ended a round of high-profile consultations on overhauling his war-fighting strategy.

He spoke by telephone with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and Kurdish regional President Massud Barzani as part of efforts to cement a "moderate bloc" behind the fragile government in Baghdad, said Bush spokesman Tony Snow.

Bush "discussed his commitment to a democratic and federal Iraq that can secure, sustain, govern itself, remains an ally in the war on terror," and sought their views on changing US strategy, said Snow.

"Both leaders spoke of how they share the President's vision for Iraq and were cooperating to be full partners against terrorism and tyranny, and building the new Iraq," he told reporters.

The US president later headed to the Pentagon for consultations with top US military planners, including some taking part from Iraq, ahead of unveiling a new strategy in a speech expected in early 2007.

Bush's conversations with Talabani and Barzani came after talks with powerful Shiite cleric and political leader Abdel Aziz al-Hakim and Iraq's top Sunni elected leader, Vice President Tareq al-Hashimi.

"We've talked in recent days about a moderate bloc that has Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish leaders, and both men fit into that moderate bloc and pledge their cooperation, not merely in building broader support for the government, but also taking action against those who want to destabilize it through acts of terror," said Snow.

Asked what would happen to key Iraqi figures who do not choose to join the "moderate bloc," as appeared to be the case with radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Snow replied that Iraqis "do have to make choices."

"On the other hand, you've got Mr al Hakim, who represents the largest Shia bloc, Mr Hashemi, who certainly has the proxy of a lot of Sunnis, and you have the two most prominent of the Kurdish leaders all talking with the president," he said.

"They are agreed upon some real fundamentals. Number one is supporting the government, and number two is taking a tough line against those who want to destabilize the government by committing acts of terror," he said.

Snow did not include Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, whom some in Washington accuse of not doing enough to quell violence by sectarian militias as his country threatens to descend into all-out civil war.

But he insisted that "the president is not doing the assembling. This has been going on within the Maliki government, trying to build this coalition. And the president is talking with willing partners."

A senior US official later disputed that Bush was taking the lead role in what he described as "an Iraqi process" of coalition building to support the government in Baghdad, stressing: "They're getting it together."

Separately, Snow denied a New York Times report that Saudi Arabia had warned that it would support Iraq's Sunni minority in sectarian strife against the Shiite majority if the United States withdraws its forces.

"That's not Saudi government policy," said the spokesman, who acknowledged that he had not discussed the matter with Riyadh's embassy in Washington or to officials in Saudi Arabia.

The Times, citing US and Arab diplomats, reported Tuesday that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia delivered the warning to Vice President Dick Cheney in Riyadh two weeks ago.