Zana Requests Constitutional Support of Kurdish Self-Expression

["F A B I O C C H I::" <eco_fabiocchi at tin.it>]

 Zana Requests Constitutional Support of Kurdish Self-Expression 
http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international&alt=&trh=20041014&hn=13002

 Former Democracy Party (DEP) deputy Leyla Zana has asked the European Union (EU) to support a new constitution that is both respectful to the basic principles of the Turkish Republic and allows Kurds to express themselves.

It is urgent that the EU remind Turkey that a new constitution is inevitable, Zana said, because the current constitution, written after the 1980 coup, is incomprehensible and full of attachments and alterations. 

Zana made her speech in Kurdish in the Socialist Group 

Zana spoke to European Parliament (EP) members yesterday in a meeting organized by the Foreign Affairs- Human Rights Sub-committee. She was enthusiastically welcomed at the EP where she tearfully embraced Claudia Roth, German Green Party deputy. Zana often described the Europeans as "my brothers and friends." 

At a reception held by the Greens Group on October 12th, Zana described Daniella Mitterand, the spouse of former French President Francois Mitterand, as "the mother of the Kurds" and said Kurds are under the oppression of Turkish people. 

Her assistants called members of the press after the statement at the reception and said her remarks were a mistaken misuse of words and that Zana does not have a negative attitude toward Turks. It was observed that Zana delivered paradoxical messages and made tangible mistakes regarding modern Turkish history. 

A German EP member of Turkish origin, Cem Ozdemir, told Zana " welcome to freedom" in Kurdish as she was entertained by the political groups in the EP. 

Zana: Kurds are a majority, not a minority 

During the meeting yesterday, EP members asked Zana quite provocative questions. Speaking often in Turkish, Zana's most remarkable answers mentioned her demands of Turkey: 

"Turkey has achieved revolutionary progress. Torture is not systematic anymore, however, it is impossible to argue that solutions have been reached for all issues. I am not displeased or reproachful towards anyone." 

"We have proceeded from denial to acceptance in the 80-year-old Republican History, but the Kurdish identity has not acquired legal status yet." 

"The EU should tell Turkey that a new constitution is required. The September 12th Constitution is not comprehensive enough and is full of patches. The constitution should be a new document that is respectful of the basics of the Turkish Republic while providing Kurds with the right to self-expression." 

"Kurds are not the minority. The expression in the Progress Report is disturbing. President [Ahmet Necdet] Sezer said of Kurds: 'Kurds are elements of the majority.' We are the majority, but we have not acquired legal assurance yet. " 

"We have 5,000-armed Kurdish youth in the mountains. These should return and join the democratic process." 

"The Repentance Law dishonored all Kurds. No one has the right to impose repentance on Kurds. Kurds accept no repentance. This shows a lack of self-respect." 

"Why isn't Kurdish included as an elective course in the curriculum?" 

"Private television networks should be free." 

"If the Justice and Development Party acts genuinely and confidentially, it will grow and be a turning point in history."