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“SENATE RESOLUTION 91--RELATIVE TO TURKEY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S4516-S4517 on March 23, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SENATE RESOLUTION 91--RELATIVE TO TURKEY
Mr. PELL (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Feingold, and Ms. Snowe) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 91
Whereas as a signatory to the Charter of the United Nations, the Government of Turkey is obligated to maintain international peace and security,to develop friendly relations among states based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to achieve international cooperation through the promotion and encouragement of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all;
Whereas the Government of Turkey, as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, has made additional and firm commitments to observe and uphold the rights of all peoples;
Whereas as a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the Government of Turkey undertook to refrain in international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations;
Whereas as a member of the Organization of for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Turkey is obliged to respect the
territorial integrity of other states, and to support the human rights, fundamental freedoms and the self-determination of peoples;
Whereas on March 21, 1995, more than 35,000 Turkish military troops, with tanks, armored personnel carriers, and air support, began an invasion of Northern Iraq;
Whereas the Government of Turkey declares that the invasion is in response to acts of terrorism by the Kurdistan Workers Party, also known as the PKK, and constitutes the hot pursuit of terrorists;
Whereas reports indicate that the Turkish army has penetrated 25 miles into Iraq along a 150 mile front, and that hundreds of ethnic Kurds have been killed thus far;
Whereas independent international observers claim that some of those killed are innocent civilians, and accuse Turkey of torturing prisoners, and of forcibly evacuating and destroying villages;
Whereas U.S. government officials have suggested that Turkey's invasion could last more than 3 weeks in duration;
Whereas in scope, scale and duration, Turkey's invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan appears to be an illegal act of aggression and inconsistent with Turkey's obligations under the U.N. Charter;
Whereas Turkey's actions jeopardize U.S. and international efforts under Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq, and threaten the provision of vital humanitarian assistance by nongovernmental organizations to the Kurds;
Whereas the U.S. Department of State reports that the general human rights situation in Turkey ``worsened significantly'' in 1994, and that in many human rights case, the specific ``targets of abuse were ethnic Kurds or their supporters;''
Whereas according to the U.S. Government, specific violations of human rights by the Government of Turkey in its campaign against the PKK include the illegal use of torture, excessive force, and political and extrajudicial killings of non-combatants;
Now, therefore be it resolved, That the Senate--
(1) Condemns Turkey's invasion of Northern Iraq as an illegal act of aggression and a violation of international law, inconsistent with Turkey's obligations under the Charter of the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty, and other international agreements;
(2) Calls upon the President of the United States to express strong U.S. opposition to Turkey's invasion of Northern Iraq;
(3) Urges the United States at the United Nations Security Council to condemn Turkey's illegal act of aggression and bring about an immediate and unconditional withdrawal;
(4) Denounces Turkey's consistent pattern of human rights violations against ethnic Kurds;
(5) Condemns all acts of terror, including those by PKK forces against Turkish civilian, military and other targets;
(6) Supports the maintenance of Operation Provide Comfort and the continuation of other non-governmental humanitarian assistance for the Kurds of Northern Iraq.
Mr. PELL. Mr. President, five years ago, when Iraqi forces crossed the border and invaded Kuwait, the international community--with the United States at the forefront--condemned the aggression and vowed that it would not stand. This week, more than 35,000 Turkish forces invaded Iraqi Kurdistan under the assertion of being engaged in hot pursuit of Kurdish terrorists. The truth is that Turkey's action is no less a violation of international law than Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
The official United States position is that Turkey faces a legitimate threat from the Kurdish Workers Party--also
[[Page S4517]] known as the PKK--a Kurdish separatist group based in Turkey that advocates the establishment of an independent Kurdish state.
The PKK is a terrorist organization, and Turkey has a right to defend its citizens against the unlawful use of terror. Where I draw the line, however, is Turkey's use of terrorism as a pretense for its full-scale invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan and as justification for its consistent pattern of human rights violations against innocent Kurdish civilians in southeast Turkey.
There is no way that the Turkish forces can distinguish between the Turkish Kurds and Iraqi Kurds that presently reside in Northern Iraq. Nor can they reasonably determine which Turkish Kurd is an armed terrorist, and which is an innocent civilian refuges. The result is that innocent Kurds--be they Iraqi or Kurdish--are being harassed, terrorized, and killed by Turkish forces.
I think that there is a fundamental truth that Turkey attempts to obscure in its approach to the Kurdish issue. The fact is that Kurdish experiment with self-rule in Northern Iraq threatens and undermines Turkey's identity. By conducting this invasion, Turkey has exposed that it cares little about Iraq's territorial integrity, and only wants to keep the Kurdish people in check.
The United States apparently has given the green light to Prime Minister Ciller's military adventure. Moreover, it is nearly certain that the Turkish military is using equipment and supplies of United States origin in its brutal war against the Kurds.
Turkey's militaristic policy towards the Kurds goes beyond the pale of civilized behavior. It is time for the United States to take a principled stand, express its opposition to Turkey's invasion of Iraqi Kurdistan, and cut off supplies of United States military equipment to Turkey. If, as reports today suggest, this operation is to extend for the next 3 to 5 weeks, then it is an outright falsehood to say that Turkey is engaged in hot pursuit. We should condemn this invasion for what it truly is--a clear act of aggression and a threat to international peace.
In this regard, I am submitting today with Senators Kerry, Feingold, and Snowe a resolution that does just that. In addition to condemning the invasion, the resolution calls upon the President to oppose Turkey's action, and urges the United States to lead an effort at the United Nations Security Council calling for an immediate and unconditional withdrawal. The resolution denounces both Turkey's consistent pattern of human rights violations against the Kurds and the violence perpetrated by terrorists, including the PKK. Finally, the resolution calls for the continuation of Operation Provide Comfort, which is crucial to the protection of civilians in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Mr. President, I would urge my colleague to join me in sponsoring this resolution.
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