Turkish state propaganda in Irish media

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday December 09, 2002 17:52 by Mags - Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey thsireland at hotmail dot com

Below is text of a pro-Turkey ad in Irish Times today, and suggested actions for people concerned.

‘Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey’
URGENT – LETTERS NEEDED
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Below is the text of a half page advertisement in the Irish Times on Monday 9th December. The Irish Times Rates Card quotes the cost of a half page colour ad as 15,851.00 euro

This is only one part of a large campaign to facilitate Turkey’s admission to the EU, for example the front cover of ‘The Economist’ magazine this week is entitled ‘Turkey Belongs in Europe’. The focus of the campaign is the upcoming EU summit in Copehagen.

People are asked to write letters to the Irish Times disagreeing with whatever points in the ad – but stressing that 101 people have died so far in the hunger strikes and protests opposing the regime of isolation prisons for political prisoners and pointing out how this conflicts with statements such as "Turkey of today is a dynamic, sound democracy … just the place to enjoy all the values you expect to find elsewhere in Europe." You could also point out that we are approaching 2nd anniversary of prison massacres, in which 28 prisoners died.

Address for letters to Irish Times lettersed@irish-times.ie
Fax: 353-1-671 9407

Please try to get letters in to the IT in next day or two.
Even if the letter is very short, please send it as a large volume of letters is important, so that the IT will print some of them. Include a phone number so that they can contact you to confirm it is a genuine letter.

Background information:
Human Rights Watch Turkey report 2001 at
http://hrw.org/backgrounder/eca/turkey-analysis.htm

Amnesty International reports in Turkey
http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/countries/turkeyb

Solidarity with Hunger Strikers in Turkey
http://www.geocities.com/turkishhungerstrike/

PS Please send a cc of your letter to thsireland@hotmail.com if possible.
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[Text of Turkey Ad]

We would like to share a thought with Mr Ahern
[Large pic of Bertie Ahern]

Acceptance is the first step to accession.

Last year ten million European chose to holiday in Turkey, this year the European Union must decide if it will take the first step towards our accession into the EU. It’s not if, but when we join the EU that’s important. We know we are ready now, because the Turkey of today is a dynamic, sound democracy with a rich cultural heritage, just the place to enjoy all the values you expect to find elsewhere in Europe. In many ways we are already accepted. We are the only country who signed the Customs Union without EU membership. We already sit on the Council of Europe. We are a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. One of our football teams was the UEFA champion. We are a cornerstone of NATO. We have a constitutional tradition since 1876 and a multiparty democracy since 1946. Now we are a politically stable, young and dynamic country ready to make a real contribution to European peace and prosperity. We acknowledge that we still have more to do, but there is a wide national consensus about them and we are moving forward. Don’t miss this historic opportunity in Copenhagen to open the way for Turkey.
Turkey – Actions speak louder than words.

This ad is initiated by:
TOBB. The Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Maritime Trade and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. Member of EUROCHAMBRES.
TUSIAD: The Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association. Member of UNICE.
TURSAB: Association of Turkish Travel Agencies. Member of ECTAA.