EU role in new PKK steps is discussed
*MGK
to discuss politicization of PKK
Mar 28, 2002
Turkish Daily News
The National Security Council (MGK) will discuss the politicization
efforts of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in its monthly meeting
to be held on March 29, security sources have said.
Representatives from the related units of the State met on Tuesday at
the MHK to prepare the meeting's agenda.
The organization's name change, from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers'
Party (PKK) to the People's Freedom Party, and its attempts to become more
politicized were broadly discussed by the experts.
The influence of certain EU States on the policy carried out by the
PKK was also reportedly raised at the meeting.
Ankara is looking ahead to the reported shift in the policy carried
out by the PKK.
Another topic to be discussed at the MGK meeting, is Kurdish broadcasting.
State Minister Yilmaz Karakoyunlu will reportedly make a presentation at
the meeting. A change in the Supreme Board of Radio and Television (RTUK)
is required for radio/TV broadcasting in Kurdish.
The PKK has threatened to renew war against Turkish forces if the government
executes imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan. NTV reported Monday that during
a congress held in neighboring northern Iraq recently, the group warned
that the execution could be "cause for war."
NTV, quoting unidentified security sources, also said that the PKK had
changed its name to the Peoples' Freedom Party. The PKK announced earlier
this year that it was abandoning its old name as part of a campaign to
transform itself into a legitimate political force.
A petition campaign was also carried out by pro-Kurdish circles for
the right to education in the Kurdish language, however the petitioners
are being charged with links to the outlawed group, the PKK.
Following the imprisonment of Ocalan, the PKK avoided getting into armed
attacks against Turkish security forces, in an aim to affect the court's
decision. |