EU envoy says no sympathy for PKK
Thursday, July 28, 2005
'Some in Turkey have concerns that more democracy and more human rights will weaken or endanger the country. But we believe that is not going to happen," says Kretschmer, the head of the EU Commission Delegation to Turkey
ANKARA - Turkish Daily News
Head of the European Union Commission Delegation to Turkey Hansjoerg Kretschmer said on Wednesday that the EU had no sympathy for Turkey's Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist group and its jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan.
The Turkish government has toughened its criticism over outside support for the PKK, which has recently stepped up its terrorist attacks in Turkey. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdog<breve>an earlier this month urged Western countries to do more to help Turkey combat the PKK and complained that members of the group living in EU countries were either not arrested or, even if they were, were not being extradited to Turkey.
Both the United States and the EU have declared the PKK to be terrorists. "We do not have any sympathy for the terrorist organization and its leader," said Kretschmer, speaking to the Anatolia news agency during a tour in the southeastern province of Ad?yaman.
Dismissing speculation that there were discussions within the EU regarding the possibility of releasing Öcalan, Kretschmer said: "This is baseless speculation. It is out of the question to free people who have been found guilty of terrorism.?
?Abdullah Öcalan has been convicted of terrorism," he said in response to another question over the EU's perception of the PKK and its leader.
Öcalan was initially sentenced to death for treason in 1999, but his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment after Turkey scrapped the death penalty to bolster its bid to enter the EU.
Ambassadors of EU-member countries to Turkey have recently voiced concern over growing PKK activities and clashes, calling for social and economic measures to improve the living standards in the impoverished Southeast of the country. Turkey is expected to begin accession talks with the bloc on Oct. 3.
Kretschmer said Turkey should embrace a liberal democratic system and a liberal market economy on this path to EU membership. While pointing out the reforms Ankara has made so far to meet the union's criteria, the EU envoy said there was still a lot to do. "Some in Turkey have concerns that more democracy and more human rights will weaken or endanger the country. But we believe that is not going to happen," he said.
A strong, stable and prosperous Turkey is in the interests of the 25-nation bloc and hence its membership was supported, said Kretschmer. "Any country that enters the EU will join as a whole. That's why political and economic reforms should be made all around the country. It is vital that all parts of the country -- East and Southeast -- should benefit from these basic reforms.?
The EU envoy, after a visit to the Mt. Nemrut tourist attraction, urged Europeans to travel to those areas where Turkey has a wealth of cultural heritage. "Tourism that invigorates this region will play a role both in economic and social aspects. Improving the economy in this region and in Turkey is crucial to Turkey's EU membership.?
Thought a few people might find this interesting reading
