EU Agency to examine PKK's drug trade connections

http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=156367

The European Union has long known that the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) is involved in the drug trade to finance its terrorist operations, but the union is only now beginning to investigate in full detail the connections the terrorist organization has with the international drug trade.

The EU's European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) is setting up a unit to investigate the PKK's drug trade activities in the southeastern town of Gaziantep, due to this town's proximity to the actual narcotics routes of the PKK.

The EMCDDA, which recently reviewed in-depth reports submitted to it by Turkey's parliamentary commission on narcotics research, decided to act, EMCDDA head of unit Alexis Goosdeel announced last week during a visit to Turkey. The commission's report included claims that there are various narcotics available for sale in front of Gaziantep schools for as low as YTL 5 and that Gaziantep housewives hand out various drugs when they visit each other's homes.

Goosdeel, who came together with members of the commission on narcotics research Thursday, stated here that Turkey has very recently signed all protocols necessary for the completion of its membership in EMCDDA, which he hoped would be ratified by Parliament soon. Once the protocol gets Parliament's approval, Turkey will be receiving 100,000 euros from the EU annually for use in the fight against the drug trade.

Speaking on the details of the Gaziantep project, Goosdeel said: "We have had a series of meetings with academics and experts to develop a national drugs report for Turkey. In the upcoming days, we will have another meeting on how we can collect data on drug treatment and substance demand indicators. We will first do research on addicts in Gaziantep and compile communicable disease figures among drug users. I have already signed the papers for this study."

Goosdeel also assured commission members that there was no data tying substance abuse surveys in schools to increases in student interest in illegal narcotics, known as "the boomerang effect." He said similar surveys have been conducted by EMCDDA in 38 other countries, with no finding supporting the idea that answering surveys on drug use could encourage substance abuse amongst youth.

In response to deputies' questions on the softer policies assumed by some European countries toward the PKK, a major drug organization in the region, Goosdeel stated that those countries have to assume a more effective stance against the PKK.

"Unfortunately, such organizations do not know any boundaries when it comes to crime. It is possible to see such examples in other places. Unfortunately, there is such a problem [of some EU countries covertly protecting the PKK] this should be reviewed carefully, given the PKK's drug trade activity. Everyone should fight such organizations with sincerity," he said.