The Turkish Parliament says Turkey supports the principle of resolving the issue within the framework of the territorial integrity of China. The Turkish Foreign Ministry says Turkey highly values its relations with China and does not intend to interfere in China's internal affairs.
PRESS RELEASE - Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs - July 6, 2009
Regarding events in Urumqi, the Capital City of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region
We have learned with deep sorrow the incidents that took place yesterday
(5th of July) in Urumqi, the capital city of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region,
situated at the north-west of the People’s Republic of China, which, according
to initial data, left more than 140 dead and 800 people injured.
It is our expectation that the persons who are responsible for these incidents
will be found out as soon as possible and brought to justice. We believe that
the necessary measures will be taken to prevent this kind of incidents in the
future in China, a country on the way of becoming more stable and prosperous. We
extend our condolences to the people of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in
particular and to the people of China in general, to the families of those who
lost their lives and wish speedy recovery to those who were injured.
TURKEY VOICES CONCERN OVER VIOLENCE
July 10, 2009
President Abdullah Gul on July 10 voiced concerns over
violence against Muslim Uighurs in China's autonomous Xinjiang territory.
Gul, who had recently visited the regional capital, Urumqi, called on the
Chinese government to bring those responsible for violence to accountability.
Both government agencies and nongovernmental organizations in Turkey have
condemned the killings in the autonomous Xinjiang territory, which is home to
millions of Turkic-speaking Muslim Uighurs.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that the events of early July were China's internal affairs, and that Turkey attached great significance to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The president urged the Chinese government to live up to its responsibility by protecting the rights of Muslim Uighurs, and to allow them to live in peace and security.
FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Burak Özügergin stated at a press conference held at the Ministry that "neither Turkey, nor China would like to lock our relationship with China to a single subject" without referring to the "genocide" remark made by Prime Minister Erdogan which received strong reaction from China.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Burak Özügergin said at the weekly press conference that the events in the Xinjiang region of the People's Republic of China caused a great deal of “sadness and concern," and added "having interest in the fate of our relatives is very natural” we will continue to follow the developments.
After violence erupted in Xinjiang, The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement about the tragic events saying that Turkey considered the events China's internal affairs, and hoped Uighurs would live in peace and security. The July 17 statement by the Ministry that "neither Turkey, nor China would like to lock our relations with China to a single subject" was significant in that it was made following calls from one of China's major newspapers for Prime Minister Erdoğan not to interfere with the internal affairs of China, and to withdraw his remarks of “genocide.”
Özügergin, while not referring to the speech of Prime Minister Erdogan's remark of "genocide," specifically reiterated that both sides are exhibiting political willingness to prevent further deterioration and move ahead with relations between the People's Republic of China and Turkey.
He also stated that he was not aware of any attempts to take the recent events in Xinjiang to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where Turkey is serving a two-year term as a non-permanent member, and China is a permanent member.
Özügergin's remarks that this matter might be considered as a later-term agenda have been interpreted as an indication that the conflict in Xinjiang will not be proposed by Turkey as a matter to be taken up by the UN Security Council.
URUMQI VIOLENCE
BEIJING
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang speaks at the Foreign Ministry press conference
The Sunday violence in Urumqi was an attempt to undermine social harmony and the spirit of coexistence.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that the July 5 incident in Xinjiang is organized and premeditated violence aimed at sabotaging China's national unification and ethnic solidarity.
"Anybody calling the violence a peaceful protest is trying to turn black into white in an attempt to mislead the public," Qin told a regular press conference.
More than 150 people died and a further 1,000-odd were injured in the riot Sunday evening in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Qin said this was an action born out of the fear of Xinjiang's social progress, solidification and prosperity.
"The violence is a preempted, organized violent crime. It is instigated and directed from abroad, and carried out by outlaws in the country," Qin said, noting that the evidence was irrefutable and conclusive.
Xinjiang police said Monday they had evidence that separatist World Uyghur Congress leader Rebiya Kadeer masterminded the riot.
Rebiya Kadeer, a former businesswoman in China, was detained in1999 on charges of harming national security. She was released on bail on March 17, 2005 to seek medical treatment in the United States.
"Rebiya Kadeer is also involved in serious economic crime," Qinsaid, noting that the Chinese government, out of humanitarian consideration, allowed her to remain out of custody and obtain medical treatment, and she had promised not to engage in actions endangering the country's security before her departure.
A series of facts in recent years proved that she was totally aliar. She took separatist actions at all times when living abroad, Qin said, urging related countries to see clearly the essence of Eastern Turkestan groups, and not to extend sympathy or support to them in any form.
According to a local official, the Chinese authorities had evidence that Rebiya Kadeer used the Internet and other means of communication to mastermind the riot in Xinjiang.
Internet was cut in parts of Urumqi following the deadly riot to prevent violence from spreading.
Qin said this measure was taken in order to deal with the incident and safeguard local stability.
After the Sunday riot, The Xinjiang judicial departments arrested some suspects in order to safeguard the normal life of the local people.
"What they have done was justified, and any country could take the same measures while facing this violence," Qin said.
He also said the China, by rule of law, would not wrong one innocent person, nor setting free any evil one.
Qin refuted the accusation by some human rights organizations criticizing Chinese government's measures to deal with Xinjiang violence.
"Those organizations view the case with bias, and their conclusion could not objective undoubtedly, and it stands in the opposite direction of ethics, laws and all Chinese people's minds," he said.
Foreign journalists, about 60 in number, were in Xinjiang on a reporting trip arranged by the Information Office of the State Council, the Chinese Cabinet.
"China takes an open and transparent principle on the news report, and offer active help and convenience for the foreign and Chinese journalists to cover news in Xinjiang," Qin said.
A press center had been established in Urumqi, with service offered by officials there, Qin said, hoping that the media would fairly report the truth.
Qin also reminded the reporters to abide by related regulations and laws, and take care of their own security.
A Xinjiang official Tuesday vowed severe punishment for the mob in the "deadliest riot since New China was founded in 1949."
Sunday's riot in Urumqi has killed 156 people and injured more than 1,000, the largest number of casualties in any single incident of its kind in six decades.
Source: XINHUANET.COM
BEIJING, July 7 2009 (Xinhua) --
news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/07/content_11667949.htm
Veteran Turkish political commentator Sami Kohen said it was natural for the Turkish people to show their sensitivity and anger over developments concerning their Uighur ethnic kin (a Turkic people who are largely Muslim and share linguistic and cultural bonds with Turkey and Central Asia). “But state policy must be more cautious and moderate. Speeches and reactions since the start of the Xinjiang crisis have created serious doubts on whether a harmonious and consistent policy has been set out,” Kohen said in Milliyet newspaper.
“It was seen with different incidents in the past that over-the-top expressions have put Turkish diplomacy in a difficult position and did not have any practical results,” he said. The genocide label is particularly sensitive in Turkey, which strongly refutes Armenian claims that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks during World War One constituted genocide. The English-language China Daily has urged Erdogan to take back his remarks, describing them as interference in China’s internal affairs. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said the accusation did not make sense.
UIGHUR'S SAY CHINA'S ETHNIC POLICIES AT ROOT CAUSE OF URUMQI RIOTS
On July 5, Uighurs attacked Han Chinese in the regional capital Urumqi after police tried to break up a protest against fatal attacks on Uighur workers at a factory in south China. Han Chinese launched revenge attacks two days later in what was Xinjiang’s worst ethnic violence in decades.
CHINA SAYS SOURCE OF PROBLEM IS EXTREMISM, SEPARATISM & TERRORISM
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told his Turkish counterpart by telephone on Sunday the Urumqi riots were a grave crime orchestrated by the three evil forces, Xinhua news agency said, referring to extremism, separatism and terrorism.
Commentator Cengiz Candar said the situation called for cool heads, given China’s permanent membership of the United Nation’s Security Council, which gives it veto powers in issues concerning Turkey such as the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus, neighbouring Iraq and Iran. “Now is the time to overcome the ‘tension’ which has emerged between Turkey and China with a diplomacy which is cool, quiet and patient,” Candar wrote in the liberal daily Radikal.
That diplomacy could face a fresh test in the near future after Erdogan said last week Turkey would grant a visa to exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer, who is based in the United States. China has blamed the ethnic unrest on exiled Uighur separatists, especially Kadeer, who denies the charge. Source: Reuters July 15 2009