The 17th International Conference on “the European Union, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds” at the European Parliament in Brussels continues on its second day.

The second session of today’s conference on “The Alleged Use of Chemical Weapons by Turkey” was moderated by American academic Michael Gunter, Secretary General of the EUTCC.

TURKISH CHEMICAL ATTACKS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED

Jan van Aken, biologist and member of Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear Wars (IPPNW) Scientific Advisory Board, attended the conference online to address the Turkish use of chemical weapons against Kurdish guerrillas in northern Iraq. Aken noted that he was also a biological weapons inspector for the UN.

Aken revealed that they wanted to go to the field to take samples as a small delegation. He said: “This happened last September. However, we could not go there because of the regional Kurdish administration. We wanted to go to the mountainous region. But the regional administration rejected it. In September, allegations regarding chemical attacks became rampant (…) We studied interview records from third parties. When I started this mission, I was not convinced. But when I come back, I can say that the evidence collected arouses suspicion. There are questions that need to be answered.”

Aken said that “It is very easy to produce chlorine gas" from the substances that are seen in a Turkish video at the entrance of a battle tunnel in Werxelê. He said: “Let's launch an international investigation by analysing the evidence. Let's delve into the details.”

Aken presented some photos taken in a different place, asking “What are Turkish soldiers doing at the entrance of a tunnel with a hose?”. “Maybe this is another chemical attack operation,” he added.

INTERNATIONAL INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION

Aken continued: “Such chemical substances cannot be used. An independent international investigation is required. The UN Secretariat and the commission of inquiry in The Hague can deal with it. But a member state must make a request. A member state should make this request within the next few months. We do not say that Turkey used these weapons, but we say that it is relevant to launch an investigation. I would say “Don't be convinced easily, but make sure to investigate.”

Aken noted that the use of tear gas was admitted by the Turkish Ministry of Defence, adding that this is prohibited under war conditions. Aken urged the international community to recognize that “this is a violation”. He underlined that a Turkish investigation into the allegations would remain unconvincing.

DRONE ATTACKS

The drone attacks by the Turkish state were addressed in a session titled “Turkey's New War: Drones and Deals”. A prominent Belgian lawyer, Georges Henri Beauthier, said that he has been practicing law for 50 years and has been to Kurdistan and northern Syria at least 15 times. Beauthier said: “But our last visit to the Yazidi region was the most dramatic one. We were subjected to multiple drone attacks day and night. They attacked without discrimination against civilians.”

TURKISH RESPONSIBILITY REMAINS PERMANENT

Beauthier added: “These armed drones must be condemned. The Turkish state uses them every day. The pro-government Turkish press praises them. All the rules of international law are violated. Persons labelled as terrorists face extrajudicial executions, without trial. This is a war crime. The silence of the international community encourages impunity. The use of armed drones must be strictly supervised. The Turkish responsibility remains persistent. There is an emergency situation.”

DRONE IMPUNITY MUST END

Beauthier stated that armed drones must be subject to legal regulations, and a lawsuit should also be launched in the European Court of Human Rights. Beauthier shared the findings and testimonies obtained during their visit to Shengal last year, emphasizing that “the Yazidis have never attacked Turkey.”

He said: “An international legal framework is urgently needed regarding the use of drones. The use of drones should be banned or subjected to a legal framework. Drone impunity must be ended. Drones could replace the police, the judiciary and the courts in the near future. If nothing is done, armed drones will continue killing people.”

MAHMOUD: EUROPEAN COMPANIES HAVE COMPLICITY

In a presentation titled “War crimes in Kurdistan: From Halabja to Today”, Head of Kurdistan Genocide Writers Union, Salar Mahmoud, said that the parties to the Lausanne Treaty “should be ashamed of themselves”, adding that hideous crimes have been committed in Kurdistan.

In a reference to the chemical attack in Halabja, Mahmoud noted that some European companies were responsible for supplying Iraq with raw materials to produce chemical weapons. These companies are based in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany.

Mahmoud added that massacres and crimes against the Kurdish people continue in the region.

EUROPE REMAINS SILENT TOWARD TURKISH CRIMES

Mahmoud reacted to the silence of the international powers: “Turkey is violating borders. It is annexing lands of the neighbouring countries to its own territory. The Turkish army has at least 60 military bases in South Kurdistan. Turkey is violating the sovereignty of another country. This clearly defies international laws.”

“As we speak here today, Turkey is attacking northern Iraq and northern Syria. It targets mountains, forests and civilians in Kurdistan. The people of Kurdistan are under siege. The weapons used are illegal weapons (…) European countries do not raise concern, and Turkey is taking advantage of it.”

TURKEY RESPONSIBLE LIKE SADDAM

Mahmoud stressed that the presence of the Turkish army in South Kurdistan has no legitimate basis. He said: “Turkey always violates international law (…) Saddam Hussein was convicted for his crimes against humanity. Turkey is also responsible in the same way.”

ÖZGÖKÇE: THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IN TURKEY IS MONEY

Bedia Özgökçe, a former HDP deputy and Co-Mayor of Van Metropolitan Municipality, addressed the Turkish state's crimes against humanity that include "ecocide", "femicide" and "genocide".

Özgökçe pointed out that neither human beings, flora nor women and children are considered worthy of protection in Turkey. She said: “The only thing that matters is their financial interests”. She said that this was also seen following the earthquake, explaining how the earthquake turned into a disaster because of violations.

The Kurdish politician stated that the government’s earthquake response put human and environmental health in jeopardy, emphasizing that all massacres committed in Turkey had ulterior motives as part of a plan.

Özgökçe also talked about the unsolved murders, burning of villages and forced displacements during the notorious 1990s. She said that various crimes committed during the invasion of Afrin still continue.

KURDS DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO ELECT AND BE ELECTED

Özgökçe criticized that although the Turkish state violated all the international conventions, there is still no condemnation against the country.

In a reference to the government dismissal of Kurdish mayors in Turkey, Özgökçe said: “The Kurds do not have the right to elect and to be elected” and the fundamental rights of the Kurds are not protected.

GENDERCIDE MUST BE TREATED AS A GENOCIDE

Pointing out that the country’s ecosystem was also under constant threat, Özgökçe expressed concern over the increasing femicide cases and the state's protection of perpetrators. “Violence against women is systematic and multidimensional. It is encouraged by the state. Gendercide should be treated as a genocide and ecocide.”

MIRANDA: WE HAVE ALWAYS DEFENDED THE KURDISH PEOPLE

In another session titled “Crimes against humanity and the European Union: Approaches and Responsibilities”, European Parliament member Ana Miranda from the Greens emphasized that she considered herself a Galician, not Spanish. Miranda insisted that they regarded themselves as a nation and corrected the introductory remark about her. She said: “We have always defended the rights of the Kurdish people.”

She continued: “We stand against the violation of the rights of the Kurds. We believe that women in particular play a key role in this regard. We always carry this scarf (pointing to a Kurdish scarf) which represents the Kurdish movement and the HDP, with us in the European Parliament.”

SANCTIONS MUST BE IMPOSED ON TURKEY

Miranda noted that despite the ceasefire declared by the PKK, Turkey continued its attacks. She said: “The European Union has not condemned Turkey so far. On the contrary, it has encouraged the Turkish state to continue this war. Even the use of chemical weapons is tolerated. In terms of international relations, Europe’s silence shows that Europe does not even embrace its own laws and values. The use of chemical weapons should be directly monitored by an independent commission of investigation. We are sure that Turkey used chemical weapons, but an international investigation is also needed. In fact, sanctions should be imposed on Turkey for its illegal actions. Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe. The ban on Abdullah Öcalan's lawyers and family is one of these violations.”

Miranda concluded: “We support the HDP and the Kurdish movement (…) Long live Kurdistan.”