Turkey Is Accusing The Us Of Genocide

[Dave]

Turk lawmaker says US in Iraq worse than Hitler

Fri 26 November, 2004 14:21

 

By Gareth Jones

 

ANKARA (Reuters) - The head of Turkey's parliamentary human rights group has accused Washington of genocide in Iraq and behaving worse than Adolf Hitler, in remarks underscoring the depth of opposition in Turkey to U.S. policy in the region.

 

The United Sates embassy said the comments were potentially damaging to Turkish-U.S. relations.

 

"The occupation has turned into barbarism," Friday's Yeni Safak newspaper quoted Mehmet Elkatmis, head of parliament's human rights commission, as saying. "The U.S. administration is committing genocide...in Iraq.

 

"Never in human history have such genocide and cruelty been witnessed. Such a genocide was never seen in the time of the

 

pharoahs (of ancient Egypt), nor of Hitler nor of (Italy's fascist leader Benito) Mussolini," he said.

 

"This occupation has entirely imperialist aims," he was quoted as telling the human rights commission on Thursday.

 

Elkatmis does not speak for Turkey's government but he is a prominent member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), a centre-right grouping with Islamist roots which has become increasingly critical of U.S. actions in Iraq.

 

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul played down Elkatmis's comments but defended Turks' right to speak freely.

 

"In open societies everybody can say what they want," Gul told reporters.

 

"Regarding U.S.-Turkey relations we can comfortably discuss any subject," he added.

 

The U.S. embassy in Ankara rejected Elkatmis's accusations.

 

"EXAGGERATED CLAIMS"

 

"Such unfounded, inaccurate, exaggerated claims are not good for relations, especially at a time of strain when Turkish public opinion is so critical of what the United States is trying to do in Iraq," one U.S. diplomat told Reuters.

 

Tellingly, Elkatmis's comments, which might have sparked outrage in many Western countries, drew barely a flicker of interest in Turkey, where opinion polls point to a growing tide of anti-American sentiment.

 

Turkey has been especially disturbed by the recent U.S. offensive against insurgents in the city of Falluja in which civilians also died and mosques were damaged.

 

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan relayed Turkish concerns over the Falluja offensive in two recent telephone calls to U.S. President George W. Bush and to Vice-President Dick Cheney.

 

Elkatmis accused U.S. forces of deliberately targeting mosques and schools in Falluja.

 

Washington says the Falluja campaign was necessary to bring the Sunni Muslim city back under the control of the central Baghdad government ahead of planned Iraqi elections in January.

 

The U.S. diplomat said Elkatmis had overlooked the fact that Iraqi insurgents like those in Falluja had abducted and beheaded a number of Turkish truck drivers in recent months.

 

Underlying Turkish criticism of U.S. policy in Iraq is the fear that Kurds in the north of the country may use the general turmoil as an excuse to seek independence from Baghdad, a move which could reignite separatism among Turkey's own Kurds.

 

Last year, the Ankara parliament, motivated partly by such fears, refused to allow U.S. troops to cross Turkish territory into Iraq at the start of the campaign to oust Saddam Hussein.

 

And some more from Turkish Press.

 

The Turkish-US Love-Hate Relationship

Ugur Akinci: 11/28/2004

Turks have such a love-hate relationship with the United States – and they are by no means alone in this, as the latest anti-American student protest in Greece has demonstrated clearly.

 

Turks know that the US supports Turkey in a number of policy issues ranging from Baku-Ceyhan oil pipeline to Turkey`s EU membership. But they are also very wary that the US is doing all that for a "sinister reason." Conspiracy, the danger of being sucked into somebody else`s less-than-noble plans, the danger of losing one`s independence and dignity is always in the foreground of Turkish thinking. The worst scenario is "Americans are trying to split Turkey."

 

When this kind of wariness is coupled with Islamic sensibilities, then it is very easy to portray Washington as the "killer of Muslims in Iraq." However, when such portrayal comes from the prominent members of the AKP government it transforms into a diplomatic problem.

 

Mehmet Elkatmis, the chairman of Turkish parliament`s Human Rights Commission has dropped such a bomb on the US-Turkish relations the other day when he accused US with "genocide" in Iraq and portrayed the Bush administration as "worse than Hitler."

 

"The occupation has turned into barbarism," the daily Yeni Safak (which is known for its special access to the AKP higher ups) newspaper quoted Elkatmis. "The U.S. administration is committing genocide... in Iraq."

 

"Never in human history have such genocide and cruelty been witnessed.

 

Such a genocide was never seen in the time of the pharaohs (of ancient Egypt), nor of Hitler nor of (Italy`s fascist leader Benito) Mussolini."

 

"This occupation has entirely imperialist aims," Elkatmis added. (Then why the Turkish government does not close the Turkish-Iraq border and ban the Turkish drivers deliver goods to the US forces in Iraq? That would have saved the lives of over 60 Turkish civilians who are beheaded or blown to pieces. What did the AKP government do to prevent such deaths or exact justice?)

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul played down the impact of Elkatmis`s comments by noting that "In open societies everybody can say what they want." What the good Mr. Gul does not admit in public is the fact that, yes, in a democracy people can say whatever they want but that does not cancel the law of cause and effect.

 

After such speech, it is impossible not to expect any adverse impact on the Turkish-US relations even though it is true that the overwhelming majority of Turks are definitely against the US occupation of Iraq.

 

If this was not a gaffe, if this was a responsible statement by a Turkish official, then why did Abdullah Gul step in and try to save the day for Elkatmis? Why did Elkatmis need such a rescue operation by the Foreign Minister himself?

 

And why did Turkey need this on the eve of the important EU summit on December 17? Or, would this actually HELP Turkey on December 17 since such vociferous Washington-slamming now pushes Turkey even closer to Paris and Bonn?

 

An interesting chess gambit before the EU end game.

 

Ironic, isn't it.

Edited November 29, 2004 by Dave

[DominO123]

The head of Turkey's parliamentary human rights group

 

Is this an oxymoron? Turkey's parliamentary human rights group?

[Dave]

And now, look at how the US reacted...

 

http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt...041130&hn=14274

 

US Pressures Turkey with 'Armenian Genocide Bill'

 

 

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has criticized the US for using the "Armenian Genocide" Bill to pressure Turkey into withholding its condemnation of the US operation in Felluce (Fallujah). Gul said the US is implying that if Turkey refers to the events in Fallujah as genocide, they will approve the Armenian bill. "This would be blackmail," said Gul and such things are not even the issue.

 

At a reception for Gul's Hungarian counterpart, Ferenc Somogyi, in Ankara yesterday, Gul discussed reports that the US is using the 'Armenian Genocide' Bill against Turkey to suppress its criticism of the Fallujah operation. Gul said: "Of course, everything should be evaluated in context. Using excessive force there [in Fallujah] and disregarding civilians are a separate issue. Turkey's attitude concerning the developments is very clear and the reaction of the public is also clear. Turkey is not the only one to react; the entire world has reacted. There are even demonstrations in Morocco for the first time. These are the requirements of open society, but saying 'if you call it genocide, we will do this' becomes extortion. Such things are unacceptable, and genocide is a completely separate issue, the legal definition is different." The Minister also sent a message to the opposition regarding its reaction to the issue. He said when the operation in Fallujah first fell apart, there was no reaction from the opposition party or the politicians; however, they are the first to react and criticize now particularly about him.

 

Dealing with Turkey's expectations on December 17 European Union (EU) summit, The Foreign Minister has been busy setting Turkey's expectations for the European Union Summit on December 17th and says there is no alternative but for the EU to open full membership negotiations with Turkey, adding that everyone knows it. He also clarified that there was no reason for a negative attitude about the decision to be made at the December 17th EU Summit. Furthermore, Gul said that if Turkey satisfies the full membership obligations and its responsibilities, it will become a full member of the EU at the proper time.

 

In response to a question about the appointment of the anti-Turkey French Finance and Economy Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, to lead the Union of Public Movement (UMP) currently in office, Gul emphasized that French President Jacques Chirac has the power in foreign policy issues. The Turkish Foreign Minister urged EU leaders to honor its pact and mentioned that Turkey already has special status within the EU and more.

 

 

 

 

 

11.30.2004

Cihan

Ankara