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October 8, 1999

The Washington Times

Re: "Ushering in Turkey's New Era" by Bruce Fein in your issue of Sept. 24, 1999

Mr. Fein's role as a spokesman for Turkey is now familiar. His last pro-Turkish appearance on your pages was on May 18 when he defended the violent behavior of Turkish parliamentarians against women choosing to wear headscarves. While it is curious that the Washington Times gives space on its commentary page to what is in essence a sponsored handout from a foreign government in advance of a visit to Washington by its Head of Government, it may be worth noting some of the points omitted from Mr. Fein's column.

1. In his reference to Chief Justice Sami Selcuk's speech of September 9, 1999, Mr. Fein fails to note the reasoning behind Justice Selcuk's call for a new constitution. He said that the current constitution had "almost no legitimacy" and that it was "an obstacle to progress." This highlights the point we at the AHI have been making for years, namely that Turkey is not a normal western democracy but is in fact a military dictatorship;
2. There is no reference to Cyprus where the 25th anniversary of Turkey's 1974 invasion and continuing illegal occupation of 37.3 percent of the island has recently been marked. The omission is conspicuous. With the U.S. committed to a new G8 initiative on Cyprus, this issue featured prominently in President Clinton's talks with Mr. Ecevit, Turkey's Prime Minister, on September 28. The Turkish attitude continues, as ever, unhelpful and obstructionist;
3. Mr. Fein's reference to the Kurdistan Worker's Party or the PKK is disingenuous. Turkey's whole policy towards its 20% Kurdish minority is one of ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity and genocide. Until Turkey is ready to abide by international norms governing the status and rights of minority peoples such as the Kurds, apologies such as Mr. Fein's for Turkey's ethnic cleansing should find no room in American newspapers.
4. There's no mention of several and substantial collaborations Turkey had with the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Mr. Fein's most curious omission was the recent warming of relations between Turkey and Greece following the tragic earthquakes in both countries. This would have buttressed his clams about a new, forward-looking Turkey."

I welcome the policy of the Commentary page in giving ample space to international issues. That writers have strongly-held personal point of view is of the essence. But government propaganda masquerading as opinion goes a little far.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMSincerely,

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMEugene T. Rossides, General Counsel

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