Yuksel Selek from Peace Promoters, Feray Salman from Women's Platform for Peace, Esra Ciftci, Istanbul deputy head of People's Democracy Party (HADEP), Eren Keskin, chair of Istanbul Human Rights Association, Yildiz Temurturkan , member of the board of directors of Freedom and Solidarity Party (ODP), and Yasar Seyman from Social Democratic People's Party (SHP), commented on the purchase of the AWACS aircrafts. They all ask "Why?"
"Homework"
According to reports, with the purchase of the AWACS aircrafts, Turkey will be able to monitor from the sky all military activity on its territory and in the region.
Again, according to the newspapers, "The U.S., which is preparing for a military operation in Iraq, is doing the homework it promised in exchange for Turkey's support."
"The U.S. had sent 228 million dollars to Turkey that took on the control of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Now the U.S. Congress has ratified the AWACS project," The newspapers have written.
"The proposal sent by the U.S. President George W. Bush to the U.S. Congress, was approved because there were no objections to it in the 15-day period."
Four AWACS could be six
Besides, the newspapers remind their readers that the International Monetary Fund (IMF), last Wednesday released 1.1 billion dollars in loans to Turkey.
The agreement that includes the sale of four AWACS aircrafts to Turkey also states that the number of aircrafts could be brought up to six if necessary. The first of the aircrafts will be manufactured in the U.S. with the surveillance of Turkish engineers. The other three will be manufactured in TAI facilities.
The test flights are planned to begin in mid 2003. The last aircraft is devised to be in the Turkish Armed Forces' inventory in the year 2005.
The AWACS project will also cater for an important transfer of technology. According to the agreement, the Turkish personnel will receive crew training, work support involving electronic infrastructure and repair-maintenance support.
Selek: It's impossible not to revolt
It is impossible not to revolt against such a spending. An almost-bankrupt country like Turkey that is trying to cope with so many economic problems is up for this kind of a spending.
These aircrafts will be purchased with the taxes paid by poor people. No country has the right to do this. I guess they will be asked to make an explanation. Turkey, which traditionally considers its neighbors to be its enemies, is preparing to become a country that could be a part of the European Union.
Newspapers wrote that the listing of the threat rating of countries have changed in the "National Security Politics Document". Even the 1.1 billion dollars in loans from the IMF is not enough to pay for the four aircrafts, which cost 325 million U.S. dollars each.
AWACS are aircrafts with "airborne warning and control systems ". What will they warn of and control? One really revolts when one thinks about it.
Salman: Embarrassing
I object to the fact that they still make military spending. According to the United Nations, the poverty limit in Turkey is pretty low. Daily spending per child is less than a dollar. I find it embarrassing for such a country to buy AWACS aircrafts. They should think about how to battle poverty instead of spending on weapons industry.
Ciftci: Seems like a preparation of an attack on Iraq
The purchase of AWACS aircrafts does not surprise me too much. They should spend some effort to become more democratic instead of buying weapons. The Copenhagen criteria, the EU-reforms are not being implemented yet. They should take steps in becoming civil.
Of course, these aircrafts should not have been purchased. This is a very serious fact. An attack on Iraq is on the agenda. These purchases seem like a preparation for an attack.
When I think about the things that have happened in the "peace period," in the last three years, the missing of two of our members in Silopi for example, I can't help but think whether something will happen again, whether they will use the aircrafts against the Kurds.
Keskin: AWACS is a weapon of an imperialist state
Turkey is getting the payoff of saying, "yes" to war. Interests shape the relations between the U.S. and Turkey.
No matter how much we object to militarist policies, they do whatever they want to. We first have to ask about Halepce. People, who gave Saddam approval for Halepce, are now trying to destroy him. And Turkey is cooperating in all these policies. This decision also demonstrates how well the two militarist countries get along.
Aircrafts like AWACS are weapons, which would be purchased by imperialist states. I think that in the case of an attack on Iraq, Turkey will use these planes against the Kurds, not Saddam.
Temurturkan: Anti-war actions should get stronger,
The AWACS project shows that military spending will continue. They should fight against poverty and unemployment; they should invest in health and education, not in weapons.
The AWACS, which have airborne warning and control systems, will obviously be used for trans-border operations.
Poverty always affects women more negatively. The women should object to this policy of war and investing in war. They should cooperate with women in neighboring countries and jointly take strong action against war.
Seyman: I don't want war aircrafts,
I am against war like all fellow women. I don't want them to buy war aircrafts anymore. They should invest in other fields. Ankara, the capital of Turkish Republic has become the capital of poverty. I want them to overcome this embarrassing situation.
I want to see Ankara as the capital of the republic, not the capital of poverty. I want a world without wars, without aircrafts and one where everybody has a job and food and lives happily. I am dreaming a world where everybody is able to board a plane, the planes of Turkish Airways (THY). I don't want warplanes. (NM/EA/NM)
