CUMHURIYET- Columnist Mustafa Balbay writes on the discussions over the list of terrorist organisations released by the EU. A summary of his column is as follows:
It seems that discussions over the list of terrorist organizations will continue for some time. Turkey has examined the sources fostering ethnic terrorist organization with great scrutiny, and is acting with great care not to be the target of new waves of terrorism. Following the Sept. 11 attacks, the EU told the world that a new phase had begun in the war against terrorism, yet it didn’t include the names of the terrorist organizations, including the PKK, given by Turkey in the list it drew up. For a while, it was rumoured that there was a second ‘secret list.’ However, it was soon became clear that this was only a rumour utterly lacking foundation. While the policy of delaying Turkey on the issue was continuing ýn the issue, the lines connecting Brussels with terrorist groups in northern Iraq were running smoothly. A report in January that a three-person Belgian parliamentary delegation had gone to northern Iraq to meet with terrorist organisation officials, in order to convince them to change their name of the organization and to press the issue of cultural rights was not denied. In fact, the Belgian ambassador to Ankara was summoned to the Foreign Ministry and told of Turkey’s displeasure over the incident. During its recent so-called eighth congress, the PKK accepted decisions in the direction of the suggestions made to it by the EU countries. The news that it changed its name was discussed by the Turkish public at the beginning of the week. Following this news, a report was published by the EU Commission which says in brief that an organization of Kurdish origin has entered into illegal activities in northern Iraq and directed the smuggling of cigarettes. We had said before while examining the PKK-EU connection that the PKK would change its name and that immediately afterwards, the EU would accept that it was a terrorist organisation. But then it would say that no such organization exists now as there is a new party which calls for cultural rights. These rights are of vital importance for us. We have entered into a process where the possibility regarding such developments has begun. Following the EU Commission report, Greece also stated that the PKK was a terrorist organisation. Good morning after supper! The process ongoing in Cyprus is no different. Since the start of the negotiations between Denktas and Clerides at the end of last year, every month one or two EU representatives visit the island and declaim loudly that they will admit the Greek Cypriots into the EU whether the Cyprus issue is solved or not. In Athens, Verheugen doesn’t talk of compromise but instead backs the Greek Cypriots. One of the cards Turkey uses against the EU is to say that it is aware that it is being delayed by the EU deliberately, but it is also aware that it is an indispensable country for the EU. Although it may be right in essence, we have to be careful in using this argument. We should not use it too often or too loudly. Turkey looks at the world and sees blocs. However, all the countries in the world do not move exclusively in blocs but rather have diverse relations. Therefore, we should not say that we are in such a bloc, but that we feel close to a certain bloc and have such a plan.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION