CALL TO PKK TO LAY DOWN ARMS
New Anatolian, Turkey
April 11 2006
Ankara
Over 130 deputies from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe (PACE) signed a joint statement on Monday calling on
the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) to “immediately and
unconditionally” lay down its arms.
The statement prepared by Turkish parliamentarians was backed by
more than 100 other deputies, including ones from Greece, Armenia,
and Russia.
Turkish Deputy and Justice and Development (AK) Party member Murat
Mercan told The New Anatolian in a telephone interview on Monday that
statement will be released today with a press conference. Mercan said
that it had been prepared by the support of all Turkish deputies and
so far has been signed by around 130 PACE members.
The written declaration says that terrorism poses one of the greatest
threats to international peace and security, as well as to democratic
institutions. The statement follows:
“The source of terrorism cuts across political, geographic and
religious boundaries. It cannot be identified with any religion,
culture or ethnic origin.
“Terrorism violates full enjoyment of one of the most fundamental
human rights, the right to life.
“Terrorism cannot have any justification under any pretext.
“We are mindful that terrorism threatens European countries, resulting
in violent attacks perpetrated in Spain, the Russian Federation and
the UK.
“We also condemn and reject the violent activities of PKK/Kongra-Gel
[Kurdistan People’s Congress, another name for the PKK] terrorist
organization which has recently escalated its criminal activities
which resulted in loss of life and material damage in Turkey.
“We ask the PKK/Kongra-Gel to stop its terrorist activities immediately
and unconditionally and lay down arms. All political demands and
aspirations must be channeled through democratic process.”
In related news, PACE President Rene van der Linden said yesterday
that the incidents in southeastern Turkey last week occurred as a
result of provocation by the separatist, terrorist PKK.
Linden, during a press conference marking the opening of PACE’s General
Council meetings, said they think the PKK is behind the incidents in
the southeast. “The PKK is a terrorist organization and it’s on the
European Union’s blacklist. We condemn PKK terrorism,” he added.