“Turkey Should Leave NATO” Urge Peace Activists

24 NGOs, trade unions and political parties and other groups have announced that they will start a campaign against NATO on its 60th anniversary on 4 April.

No grounds for celebration

Speaking at a press briefing at the Istanbul branch of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers (MMO), Prof. Dr. Tahsin Yeşildere, the president of the University Lecturer Association, said that, like all over the world, Turkish pacifists and NATO opponents would take to the streets. He added:

“We will not allow celebrations of the 60th anniversary of NATO. Our campaign will consist of showing NATO supporters the truth about NATO’s crimes, murders, occupations, coups, assassinations and contra-guerrilla organisations.”

Apart from the dissolution of NATO, the protesters have the following demands:

• Turkey should leave NATO immediately and pull its soldiers out of Afghanistan.
• NATO bases in Izmir, Konya, Şile, Balıkesir and Marmaris should be closed down immediately.

The groups that have come together for this protest are:

The Anti-capitalist Peace Rock  Initiative, Pedal for Peace Group, Demokratic Society Party(DTP), Revolutionary Socialist Workers’ Party (DSİP), Labour Party (EMEP), Labour Movement Party (EHP), Socialist Platform for the Oppressed (ESP), Association for Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the Young Civilians, the People’s Front, HOMUR Caricature and Humor Group, the Initiative to Say Stop to Racism and Nationalism, Human Rights Association (İHD), the Confederation of Trade Unions for Public Workers (KESK), Global Action Group (KEG), the Organisation of Human Rights and Solidarity with Oppressed People (MAZLUMDER), Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), Socialist Party, Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), Social Democratic Foundation (SODEV), Turkish Communist Party (TKP), Association of University Lecturers, Green Party. (BÇ/AG)