General Kivrikoglu: Kurdish Broadcasting Not Allowed

Warnings from General Kivrikoglu
Milliyet
October 3, 2001
by Fikret Bila

Most of the questions Chief of Staff General Kivrikoglu was asked had to do with the
methods   the United States will use to intervene in Afghanistan and to fight terrorism.

General Kivrikoglu had this warning for the West, especially Germany and Greece:

"We are the most experienced in the struggle with terrorism.   We developed a national
security strategy against terrorism during this time.   Now the world is struggling with this
concept.   However, it is necessary that the world not be two-faced in the struggle with
terrorism.   The definition of terrorism is very important.   This definition must not set
a double standard."

After giving this warning the TGS chief gave the following examples:

"It is not enough to struggle with the terrorists alone.   It is necessary to struggle with the
elements that support them as well.   For example, associations.   There are hundreds of
associations in Germany today that are known to be PKK sympathizers, are known to
support this organization.   The PKK is sheltered, trained, and armed thanks to these
seemingly civil organizations.   They are always talking about religious terrorism in
Germany, but never speak of any other kind of terrorism.   Certain groups in Greece are
trying to make the Turkish Armed Forces out to be terrorists.   But what is going on at the
Lavrion Camp in Greece?   PKK terrorists are still being trained.   Who gave Abdullah
Ocalan a passport when he left Syria?   Who permitted him to enter their country?   Which
embassy in Kenya allowed him to stay in the residence?   These are known facts."

General Kivrikoglu then offered the following evaluation:

"Certainly, we must fight terrorism.   But the struggle must be conducted also with states
that use terror and terrorist organizations to achieve certain goals.   And states that do will
wind up in the same situation as the terrorists.   We know examplesof this."

Chief of Staff General Kivrikoglu said that certain groups are tryng to take advantage of
recent events to denigrate northern Iraq.   He said there is an effort to include northern
Iraq in the scope of the intervention the United States will carry out, and it is being done
intentionally.

Kurdish-Language Broadcasts

General Kivrikoglu said, in answer to questions about the consitutional amendments, that he
does not share the view that the amendments will permit Kurdish-language broadcasts.   He
said:

"The Constitution is changing, but I believe this idea is blocked by provisions of the RTUK
Law.   The RTUK Law states that the broadcast language is Turkish.   It would be wrong to
think that Kurdish broadcasts would be permitted as long as these provisions exist.   There is
also a provision in article 42 of the Constitution."

So the results that emerged from General Kivrikoglu's and the commanders' comments is
that a double standard should not be applied in the world-wide struggle against terrorism
and that Turkey's expertise and suggestions should be heeded.