Parliament
Secures Vote
of Confidence from the
People of Turkey
by
Peace Initiative of
Turkey
March 5, 2002
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey said "NO TO
WAR" on Saturday, March 1st, 2003.
This is tantamount to saying "YES" to the will of the
people.
With their votes, our deputies also said "NO" to
- Dispatching our children to die,
- Annihilating our neighbours, the people of
Iraq
- Submitting to the threats of the USA
- Transforming Turkey from a relatively dependent
country into a fully dependent one
- Degrading our country to the position of becoming
the subject matter of cartoons.
We thank them
We thank the members of the Parliament who displayed
the dignity of taking this decision and the President of
State and Speaker of Parliament who unrelentingly
underlined the principle of "international legitimacy",
and we demand that they continue to uphold this
determination in the days to come.
Those who opt for war claim that the result of this
voting has dealt a serious blow to the government which
should therefore seek a vote of confidence from the
Parliament. We are categorically against all attempts to
exploit this historic decision of the Parliament in petty
domestic political struggle. If we are to talk about a
vote of confidence, we can confidently say that: "The
Grand National Assembly of Turkey has secured a vote of
confidence from the people."
There can be no second
memorandum
We know that efforts to drag our country into this war
will go on non-stop. For there are people who consider
the Parliament's decision to be ill-taken. Firstly, to
present a second memorandum of the same content will be
tantamount to the repudiation of the Parliament
resolution on March 1st and it will override the will of
the Parliament. No one is entitled to do this. Such
action will be unacceptable on legal and ethical terms
and will be a violation of the Constitution and the Code
of the Parliament.
We will share our
bread
Resistance to all these pressures for war may have
economic consequences. And these consequences may be very
severe. But as a society with dignity, we are ready to
pay this price. Turkey's resources will be enough for all
of us. Those who have bread are ready to share it with
those who don't. For the peace-loving citizens of Turkey
hold the honor of being the citizens of a peace loving,
free and dignified country much dearer than money.
We are closer to the EU
now
The decision is said to have damaged US-Turkish
relations. Let it be so, as long as the US marches on the
path of belligerency, aggression and war. Let it not be
forgotten that Turkey has taken an important step in the
direction of EU with this decision. And even more
important, Turkey has now positioned herself on the side
of millions of peace activists who herald a new
world.
The solution to the Kurdish
Question is in Turkey
As for using the founding of a "Kurdish State" as a
stake... Irrespective of the founding of a Kurdish State
in Northern Iraq, Turkey has to deal with the problems of
identity, welfare and freedom of her citizens of Kurdish
origin by peaceful means. This solution can not be
achieved outside our borders, through war in North Iraq,
but only by establishing social peace in Turkey.
Ankara became the capital of peace on March
1st.
Let us keep it that way.
PEACE INITIATIVE
March 3, 2003
Erol Dernek Sok. 11, Hanif Han 4/5, 80072 Istanbul,
Turkey e-mail: peaceturkey@yahoo.com
INTERNATIONAL
ACTION ALERT
Turkey has made history!
Please join us in giving support to the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey for their decision not to
support the war against Iraq!
Dear Friends,
On March 1st, as 100.000 anti-war activists were
marching in the streets of Ankara, the Grand National
Assembly of Turkey said "NO TO WAR" by defeating the "War
Resolution" prepared by the government earlier last
week.
This is tantamount to saying "YES" to the will of the
people!
With their votes, the deputies said "NO" to:
- the deployment of foreign (i.e. American)
soldiers in Turkey,
- the use of bases and ports by foreign military
forces,
- the deployment of Turkish soldiers outside Turkey
(i.e. Northern Iraq).
This means that there will be no "Northern Front"
in the planned war!
We believe that this decision might be decisive in
postponing or stopping the war!
As the Peace Initiative of Turkey, we have held a
press conference today to thank the Grand National
Assembly and to assure them that they have our full
support as long as they maintain their stance against the
war. We asked them to keep Ankara as the capital of
peace!
The U.S. pressure on the Turkish government is
stronger than ever. In the midst of an economic crisis,
Turkey is likely to suffer tremendously from this state
of uncertainty and loss of U.S. support. It is very
important that the international community give support
to the government and the Grand National Assembly at this
crucial moment! They need to know that they are not
alone!
Please write to members of the government, the parties
in the Grand National Assembly, and the President, and
let them know how you feel about their decision on March
1st.
In solidarity,
Peace Initiative of Turkey
**** We will appreciate it if you forward a copy of
your messages to us at the following address:
peaceturkey@yahoo.com
ADDRESSES:
President of State
Ahmet Necdet Sezer
fax: +90.312 427 13 30
e-mail: cumhurbaskanligi@tccb.gov.tr
Speaker of Parliament
Bulent Arinc
fax: +90.312 420 51 65
Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul
Fax: +90.312 417 04 76
e-mail: abdullah.gul@basbakanlik.gov.tr
Deputy Prime Minister
Ertugrul Yalcinbayir
fax: +90.312 419 54 43
e-mail: ertugrul.yalcinbayir@basbakanlik.gov.tr
Speaker of Government
Abdullatif Sener
e-mail: abdullatif.sener@basbakanlik.gov.tr
Human Rights Comission
Fax: +90. 312 420 53 94
e-mail: inshkkom@tbmm.gov.tr
National Defense Comission
Fax: +90.312 420 53 28
e-mail: savkom@tbmm.gov.tr
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Yasar Yakis
Fax: +90.312 287 88 11
e-mail: info@mfa.gov.tr
President of Justice and Development Party (AKP)
(Ruling Party)
Tayyip Erdogan
rte@akparti.org.tr
www.rterdogan.com
President of Republican People's Party (CHP)
(Main Opposition Party)
Deniz Baykal
e-mail: dbaykal@chp.org.tr
©
TFF and the
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