From: Communist Party of Turkey, Tue, 29 Jan 2002 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] , http://www.tkp.org.tr ==================================================== Communist Party of Turkey
STATEMENT BY THE "LEFT COUNCIL" (Sol Meclis) 2002-01-27 The 3rd Convention of the Left Council (Sol Meclis) on January 26 - 27, 2002, has analysed the recent developments since the second meeting on October 27 -28, 2001, and has decided to make the following statement to the public. "1) It is all as usual on the economic front of Turkish capitalism. The system has nothing to offer the majority of the people, the great masses other than increasing poverty. On the other hand, there seems to be no glimmer of hope for an economy predicted to be able to retain its size of two years ago no sooner than two years later, an economy which continues to transfer its resources abroad in the name of obtaining foreign resources, an economy in which the creation of domestic resources is synonymous of deducting its people's means of subsistence, and an economy which is inseparably integrated into the world capitalist system which itself is currently in recessive condition. Ahead of us, our people and those intellectuals in the service of our people, are issues which must be thoroughly dealt with, such as the rendering of the Turkish financial system completely dependent on foreign capital via the new "stand-by" agreement to be signed with the IMF, the new banking law and similar rearrangements, the implementation of new fiscal policies and taxes in favour of the bourgeoisie, and the programme for plunder under the cover of "reconstructing agriculture." 2) On the Cyprus issue, the permanent topic of Turkish foreign politics, it is observed that EU and US imperialisms have been carrying out their "solution". This process has also revealed that Denktas, the man whom the opposition on the island believed to be the antagonist of solutions, was not an "independent" actor after all. And it is not at all suprising that the solution of EU accession can be realised while conserving and sustaining the Denktas administration. The solution launched is one in which Cyprus is integrated into the EU, Turkish and Greek military bases are replaced by those of NATO, and a pseudo-union is established while former hostilities persist. It is the duty of all progressive forces of Cyprus, Turkey and Greece to declare that "this solution is not ours". 3) The bargain the Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit made on his US visit last week had two objectives regarding the Iraqi issue: The prevention of an establishment of a Kurdish state in northern Iraq, and to gain economic advantage from a possible intervention. As soon as these demands are satisfied and the form of cooperation is decided upon, the discussion will be over. The Left Council calls upon our people, our intelligentsia to oppose such a war which will bring us and neighbouring peoples nothing but death and destruction. 4) The Left Council condemns US-led Israel's policy of violence and destruction directed against the Palestinian people. 5) The recent developments have shown that the Turkish ruling classes are extremely dependent upon the imperialist system not only economically but also in ideological and political aspects. In short, in addition to the economic decline, the system cannot offer a political solution to the interest of the people. This statement is no doubt equally valid for the Kurdish working classes. The interests of the Turkish and Kurdish working classes are tied; their interests require that they organise and struggle on all fronts as partners. 6) The year 2002 is the 100th anniversary of the birth of our great poet Nazim Hikmet. It is absolutely natural for every world citizen and the citizens of Turkey to enjoy different flavours from his works. But Hikmet's poetry cannot be separated from his Communist identity or from his political actions. The endeavour to convert Nazim Hikmet into a marketable fetish and the hypocritical campaigns for Nazim Hikmet should be confronted. Everybody knows who he is, Nazim Hikmet, the communist poet. The Left Council, commemorates Nazim Hikmet's great works and deeds with high esteem." Left Council was formed by some prominent intellectuals, politicians and trade-union activists after a call by the Communist Party of Turkey in 2001. The members of the Council meet regularly to discuss the theoretical, political and ideological problems of the Turkish left. Among the 40 members of the Council are; Attila Asut (journalist, former member of CC of the Communist Party of Turkey in late 70's), Cemal Kıral (former member of CC of the Communist Party of Turkey in late 70's and 80's), Emin Karaca (writer), Haluk Gerger (writer), Haluk Yurtsever (former member of CC of the Communist Party of Turkey in late 70's), Izzettin Onder (economist-academician), Kemal Okuyan (General Secretary of the Communist Party of Turkey), Mesut Odman (writer, Secretary of Nazim Culture House), Metin Culhaoglu (editor of the journal "Socialist Policy", former Executive Committee member of ODP), Rasih Nuri İleri (writer, one of the former leaders of the Communist Party of Turkey and The United the Communist Party of Turkey), former Tevfik Cavdar (economist, former Vice-President of the SODEP-the social democrat party), İzzettin Onder (economist-academician), Yusuf Ziya Bahadinli (writer, former MP). _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.
