In August 2011 the IHD Amed(Diyarbakir) branch had published a detailed report on the use of chemical weapons. According to that report 437 Rebels have lost their lives in 39 separate operations carried out with chemical weapons by the Turkish army since 1994.The IHD "Report of Chemical Weapons" contains important information about the Turkish army operations inwhich chemical weapons have been used. http://www.kurdishinstitute.be/english/human_rights/2127.html But now German experts are confirming that Turkey had used a kind of chemical weapons or thermical bombs with phosphor derivates against Kurds. However, NATO officers in Brussels who want to be anonymous confirmed to ANP that “all these accusations against the Turkish army make also difficulty for NATO” and they ask Turkish officials “to act under acceptable framework and rules of NATO on war against Kurdish separatists”. They added that “NATO understands the Turkish fight to protect its self, but the use of such forbidden weapons or poisons should not be tolerated for any member countries” http://www.kurdishinstitute.be/english/human_rights/index.5.html
15 March 2012 The Commission will continue to follow the issue with a particular interest, said commissioner for enlargement. Mr Stefan Füle, EU commissioner for enlargement, has replied to the parliamentary question presented by several EP members concerning the alleged chemical weapon use against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) guerrillas. In an answer given on behalf of the EU Commission, Füle remarked that the Commission will follow the subject which it brought to the agenda before Turkish authorities. The parliamentary question presented by European parliamentarians had been signed by Jurgen Klutte, Nikolaos Chountis (GUE/NGL), Cornelis de Jong (GUE/NGL), Cornelia Ernst (GUE/NGL), Jean Lambert (Verts/ALE), Baroness Sarah Ludford (ALDE), Katarína Neveďalová (S&D)and Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL). In the response letter to the question, Füle says the followings; After the subject was brought to the agenda by the Commission, Turkey stated in early December of 2011 that the bodies of mentioned PKK members were being examined by Forensic Medicine Institute within the scope of an investigation into the allegations. The Commission will nevertheless continue to follow the issue with a particular interest. Within the scope of membership negotiations with Turkey, the Commission will also draw attention to the decisions stated in the final declaration of the European Union in December of 2006 as well as the scope of the negotiation determined by EU member countries in 2005. Allegations of chemical weapon use by Turkish army against PKK guerrillas were most recently brought to the agenda following the military operation in Çukurca where 36 guerrillas lost their lives on 22 September 2011. Identities of the unrecognizably burnt bodies of guerrillas couldnt be determined for many weeks after the clash. Over 470 guerrillas are thought to have been killed with chemical weapons in at least 40 operations between the years of 1994 and 2011. ANF / BRUSSELS ANF NEWS AGENCY
