In an open letter sent today Human Rights Watch/Helsinki urges President Clinton to raise human rights concerns with Turkish Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz when the two meet on Friday.
A copy of the open letter is attached.
December 17, 1997
President Bill Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C.
Dear President Clinton:
In the wake of the European Union's decision to postpone membership talks with Turkey until it improves its human rights record, Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz travels to Washington this week in search of unconditional support. In your meeting with Prime Minister Yilmaz, we urge you to emphasize that the U.S. will not compromise its human rights standards in its strategic partnership with Turkey.
Persistent human rights violations in Turkey include widespread police abuse and torture, restrictions on the right of free expression, and serious abuses committed by both sides in the conflict between the Turkish government and the separatist Workers Party of Kurdistan. This human rights situation can only serve to destabilize Turkey and undermine U.S. economic and security interests in the country.
Since coming into power last July, Mr. Yilmaz's government has taken some limited steps to improve the situation, but has demonstrated little commitment to achieving lasting change. For example, the Yilmaz government can be credited with an August law that resulted in the release of at least 10 editors who had been jailed on free expression charges. At the same time, other laws restricting free expression remain on the books and continue to be used to punish, fine, and imprison journalists and writers, to confiscate and ban publications, and to fine and temporarily close television stations. In a similar vein, Mr. Yilmaz vowed to end torture and police abuse, but credible reports of these practices have continued. This month Mr. Yilmaz issued a circular to security forces forbidding torture and abuse; but these crimes are already banned under Turkish law and similar circulars by former governments have had little result.
Mr. Yilmaz has attempted to deflect E.U. criticism of Turkey's human rights record by claiming religious discrimination by the E.U. But such responses leave unanswered the challenge to the Turkish government to take concrete steps to improve Turkey's deplorable human rights record. Stated U.S. policy toward Turkey has been to balance concern about the human rights situation with strategic security and trade interests. At this time, when Turkey is in particular need of U.S. support, we urge you to underscore that such support is conditioned on clear signs of progress on the human rights front. Sincerely,
Holly Cartner
Executive Director
Human Rights Watch/Helsinki
cc: Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
National Security Advisor Sandy Berger
