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Rassmussen Confirms US' Roj TV Letter |
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Friday, 25 November 2005By Hasan Cucuk
Published: Thursday, November 24, 2005
zaman.com
Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen confirmed the existence of the "secret letter" addressed by the US to Copenhagen to request the banning of Roj TV, which has been the subject of a crisis between Turkey and Denmark. Roj TV is a supporter of the terror organization the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK).
Rasmussen meeting representatives from Denmark's eminent newspapers said that the suit filed against Roj TV continued on its normal course, and that they would not accept any external pressure. Rasmussen noted that the evidence presented by Turkey and the US were added to the dossier, he also supported Justice Minister Lene Espersen who disclosed the letter. Espersen had confirmed the existence of the letter to the newspaper Berlingske Tidende which had revealed the letter.
US Department of State spokesperson Sean McCormack on Tuesday said with regard to the letter that he had no such information. Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller to whom the letter was addressed said that he did not in fact see the US letter.
Meanwhile, Rasmussen also turned out to be among those who were not aware that according to the Danish criminal code receiving financial aid from a terror organization is not a crime. Rasmussen noted that he too was very surprised upon learning that receiving money from a terror organization was not a criminal act, and said that he, like any ordinary person, he thought that receiving money from a terror organization was a crime, as was providing financial aid to such an organization. The opposition parties maintain that this lapse in the criminal code should be corrected by parliament immediately. Political observers describe Rasmussen's situation in this affair as desperate and note that if Roj TV escapes penalty because of this lapse in the law, the fate of the issue will then completely depend on the decision of the political authority. Observers also noted that if a penalty emerges in this case, Rasmussen will be relieved, however if not, then Rasmussen will have to decide for a legal amendment to fill in the legal lapse. If he cannot show that much determination, the observers say, then what will ensue will be to his disadvantage.
The Roj TV investigation is still continuing in Denmark; Copenhagen Security, which conducted the investigation, said as yet there was no decision about the matter, but confirmed one would soon emerge. Turkey has asked Denmark to ban Roj TV. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeated the demand he made during his recent visit to Denmark. During this visit he had asked Danish officials not to allow reporters from Roj TV to attend the joint press conference he had with Rasmussen after their meeting, however, after receiving a negative response he cancelled the press conference and left the country.
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Friday, 25 November 2005
zaman
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