[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 149 (Friday, September 22, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14128-S14129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS--AMENDMENT NO. 2748

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, on September 20, I voted against an 
amendment offered by Senator Brown to cap economic assistance to 
Turkey, because I believe the United States should strongly support 
economic development in that country.
  Turkey is a NATO member and a close ally of the United States. Turkey 
has been instrumental in enabling the humanitarian program in Northern 
Iraq to proceed. Turkey is also struggling to become more closely tied 
to the European economic community, and to reform its constitution to 
strengthen democracy. I believe we should support that.
  I also believe, however, that we have a responsibility to speak out 
about the mistreatment of the Kurdish minority in Turkey, which is 
primarily located in several southeastern provinces.
  The undeniable fact is that the Kurds are second-class citizens in 
Turkey, where they are discriminated against in law and practice. In 
the southeast, where the PKK are waging a terrorist campaign against 
the Turkish Government, virtually any Kurd is branded with the 
``terrorist'' label and considered by the Turkish military to be the 
enemy.
  Thousands of Kurds, including innocent civilians, have been caught up 
in this struggle, and there are persistent reports of the excessive use 
of force by Turkish soldiers. There is also no denying that the PKK has 
used abominable tactics, resulting in many innocent deaths.
  But according to a report requested by the Appropriations Committee 
last year and released by the State Department several months ago, and 
other reports by Turkish and international human rights organizations, 
United States military equipment, particularly fighter aircraft and 
helicopters, have been routinely used to strafe and destroy Kurdish 
villages.
  The villages are targets because the Turkish Army regards them as 
havens for the PKK, which in some instances they may be. But the 
attacks have been indiscriminate, resulting in many civilian 
casualties. There has been a pattern of human rights violations against 
the Kurdish people, who have been dehumanized by Turkish society.
  It recently came to my attention that the Turkish Government does not 
permit the International Committee of the Red Cross into Turkey. 
Frankly, it is inconceivable to me that a democracy, an important 
member of NATO, 

[[Page S 14129]]
and a country that seeks closer ties to Europe, would deny the ICRC 
access when there is clearly a need for it. Any armed conflict involves 
abuses of human rights against civilians, and in Turkey the evidence of 
such abuses by both sides is overwhelming. In addition, the State 
Department has reported on the mistreatment and torture of prisoners in 
Turkish jails for many years.
  The ICRC operates confidentially. It does not seek to embarrass 
governments. It does not discuss its findings with the press, or with 
the Congress, or anyone else. Its goal is to monitor human rights and 
provide objective advice to whoever is deemed to be violating them on 
how to improve respect for human rights.
  I am told by administration officials that they have raised this 
issue with Turkish officials in the past, to no avail. That is 
discouraging, and it is for that reason that my amendment calls on the 
President of the United States to raise this himself with the Turkish 
Prime Minister. I believe this issue is that important. I also believe 
that Turkey's willingness to do this would be an important sign of its 
commitment to improve human rights.
  It is for this reason that yesterday I offered an amendment, which 
was adopted, which aims to encourage the Turkish Government to permit 
unimpeded access to the ICRC, especially in the southeast where its 
presence is so urgently needed. I think this is the least that a 
civilized, democratic country should do.
  I hope the administration understands the importance of this 
amendment, and will give it the urgency and serious attention that it 
deserves.
  I also joined Senator Pell in an amendment, which was also adopted, 
which provides $5 million for nongovernmental organizations to carry 
out humanitarian and other activities on behalf of Kurds in 
southeastern Turkey. I think this is very important. It is consistent 
with United States policy of promoting economic development, cultural 
and ethnic tolerance, and human rights, and it makes clear that we want 
to see a portion of our assistance to Turkey used to directly further 
these goals. I trust the administration will make every effort to 
encourage the Turkish Government to permit the use of these funds as 
intended.

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