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Today's Zaman, Turkey
May 27 2012
President Gül regrets DDK has no authority to investigate Uludere
28 May 2012 / ABDÃ`LHAMÄ°T BÄ°LÄ°CÄ°, SAN FRANCISCO / ANKARA
President Abdullah Gül has said he would assign the task of
investigating the deaths of 34 civilians in an airstrike in Uludere,
Hakkari province, on Dec. 28, 2011, to the presidential investigative
body, the State Audit Council (DDK), but noted that military crimes
fell outside the DDK's authorities.
He told journalists on a plane on Sunday bound for Turkey at the end
of a 10-day visit to the US, that everyone, including military
officers, was deeply saddened by the Uludere deaths. He said that,
according to the constitution, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the
judiciary fell outside the scope of jurisdiction of the DDK, but added
that he wouldn't hesitate to assign the investigation to it, if it had
the power to look into it.
In response to a question on whether the Turkish state was going to
apologize for the deaths of 34 Kurds -- all civilians who made a
living as smugglers in the region -- in the airstrike carried out by
Turkish jets, Gül said: `What I am saying is something beyond an
apology. What is an apology? An apology can be made, but I am
expressing a much deeper pain so [how we feel] can be understood much
better.'
He claimed that both the military and civilian administrators were
shocked and saddened by the incident. `We were as upset as if this had
happened to a close relative. The problem here is to ensure that this
sadness is understood better by the citizens.'
The president said the main issue was the officials' failure to
reflect the level of sincere sadness they feel. `As far as I know, all
sorts of documents and information have reached the court. It is
important that there is no obscuring [of evidence]. Many things have
been covered up in our history. As you know, some [cold] cases are
being reopened. Both the government and general staff want [Uludere to
be properly investigated]. The chief of the general staff visited me
after the incident and briefed me on all the details. He told me, `We
are sending everything the court wants.''
He said the TSK was the institution most clearly devastated by the airstrike.
The TSK maintains that the civilians were mistaken for Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) militants, but the identity of the individual or
individuals who gave the exact orders is still being investigated.
Gül said: `The [airstrike] wasn't done on purpose and if that
conclusion has been reached, the biggest pain is felt by those who
played a role in these [military] operations. It is out of the
question that there was any deliberateness. But the judiciary will
shed light on whether the procedures were properly followed, if there
were any inadequacies or technical flows.'
BBP leader should speak out on threats
Gül also shared his opinion on a recent revelation from head of the
Grand Unity Party (BBP) Mustafa Destici that he was being threatened
by individuals to stop investigating the suspicious death of former
BBP leader Muhsin YazıcıoÄ?lu, who died in a helicopter crash while
traveling during an election campaign in 2009. `If he is threatened,
he should state this clearly. We invited everyone who knows about
these issues at the General Staff. All evidence we have has been
dispatched to prosecutors.'
The DDK is also investigating the helicopter crash that killed
YazıcıoÄ?lu, during which military radars blacked out for a few
seconds, adding to suspicions that the crash was the result of
sabotage.
Kurdish question
The president also shared his opinion on the Kurdish question, saying,
`I have always said this is the biggest issue Turkey has to deal with.
We should absolutely remove this problem from the country's agenda.
Then the prosperity level of our citizens will also increase. I can't
say how close we are to solving the problem. Sometimes I am optimistic
and sometimes I lose my optimism.' He said the Peace and Democracy
Party (BDP) had an important responsibility in finding a solution to
the issue.
Armenia initiative not frozen
Gül also responded to a question on whether an initiative launched by
the Turkish government in 2009 with a visit from the president to
Yerevan to normalize the relations between the two countries has
officially been abandoned. `I don't think the Armenian initiative is
dead. Both Turkey and the region need to save themselves from this
dispute. We are working on the issue on a larger scale. There are both
civilian and official organizations that we have assigned tasks to in
this regard. The status quo is not helping Turkey, Armenia or
Azerbaijan.'
He noted that the state of California is home to many people of
Armenian descent, adding that there hadn't been any negative
incidents. `Armenians who have high positions in the city [of San
Francisco] greeted us warmly and have been great hosts. They told us
they were very pleased by our visit,' Gül said.
May 27 2012
President Gül regrets DDK has no authority to investigate Uludere
28 May 2012 / ABDÃ`LHAMÄ°T BÄ°LÄ°CÄ°, SAN FRANCISCO / ANKARA
President Abdullah Gül has said he would assign the task of
investigating the deaths of 34 civilians in an airstrike in Uludere,
Hakkari province, on Dec. 28, 2011, to the presidential investigative
body, the State Audit Council (DDK), but noted that military crimes
fell outside the DDK's authorities.
He told journalists on a plane on Sunday bound for Turkey at the end
of a 10-day visit to the US, that everyone, including military
officers, was deeply saddened by the Uludere deaths. He said that,
according to the constitution, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the
judiciary fell outside the scope of jurisdiction of the DDK, but added
that he wouldn't hesitate to assign the investigation to it, if it had
the power to look into it.
In response to a question on whether the Turkish state was going to
apologize for the deaths of 34 Kurds -- all civilians who made a
living as smugglers in the region -- in the airstrike carried out by
Turkish jets, Gül said: `What I am saying is something beyond an
apology. What is an apology? An apology can be made, but I am
expressing a much deeper pain so [how we feel] can be understood much
better.'
He claimed that both the military and civilian administrators were
shocked and saddened by the incident. `We were as upset as if this had
happened to a close relative. The problem here is to ensure that this
sadness is understood better by the citizens.'
The president said the main issue was the officials' failure to
reflect the level of sincere sadness they feel. `As far as I know, all
sorts of documents and information have reached the court. It is
important that there is no obscuring [of evidence]. Many things have
been covered up in our history. As you know, some [cold] cases are
being reopened. Both the government and general staff want [Uludere to
be properly investigated]. The chief of the general staff visited me
after the incident and briefed me on all the details. He told me, `We
are sending everything the court wants.''
He said the TSK was the institution most clearly devastated by the airstrike.
The TSK maintains that the civilians were mistaken for Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) militants, but the identity of the individual or
individuals who gave the exact orders is still being investigated.
Gül said: `The [airstrike] wasn't done on purpose and if that
conclusion has been reached, the biggest pain is felt by those who
played a role in these [military] operations. It is out of the
question that there was any deliberateness. But the judiciary will
shed light on whether the procedures were properly followed, if there
were any inadequacies or technical flows.'
BBP leader should speak out on threats
Gül also shared his opinion on a recent revelation from head of the
Grand Unity Party (BBP) Mustafa Destici that he was being threatened
by individuals to stop investigating the suspicious death of former
BBP leader Muhsin YazıcıoÄ?lu, who died in a helicopter crash while
traveling during an election campaign in 2009. `If he is threatened,
he should state this clearly. We invited everyone who knows about
these issues at the General Staff. All evidence we have has been
dispatched to prosecutors.'
The DDK is also investigating the helicopter crash that killed
YazıcıoÄ?lu, during which military radars blacked out for a few
seconds, adding to suspicions that the crash was the result of
sabotage.
Kurdish question
The president also shared his opinion on the Kurdish question, saying,
`I have always said this is the biggest issue Turkey has to deal with.
We should absolutely remove this problem from the country's agenda.
Then the prosperity level of our citizens will also increase. I can't
say how close we are to solving the problem. Sometimes I am optimistic
and sometimes I lose my optimism.' He said the Peace and Democracy
Party (BDP) had an important responsibility in finding a solution to
the issue.
Armenia initiative not frozen
Gül also responded to a question on whether an initiative launched by
the Turkish government in 2009 with a visit from the president to
Yerevan to normalize the relations between the two countries has
officially been abandoned. `I don't think the Armenian initiative is
dead. Both Turkey and the region need to save themselves from this
dispute. We are working on the issue on a larger scale. There are both
civilian and official organizations that we have assigned tasks to in
this regard. The status quo is not helping Turkey, Armenia or
Azerbaijan.'
He noted that the state of California is home to many people of
Armenian descent, adding that there hadn't been any negative
incidents. `Armenians who have high positions in the city [of San
Francisco] greeted us warmly and have been great hosts. They told us
they were very pleased by our visit,' Gül said.