Govt puts more pressure on Denmark over Roj-TV

The New Anatolian / Ankara

Following efforts by the Turkish government to have Danish-based Roj-TV closed, Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said yesterday that there's enough evidence for Denmark to do so.

Steps taken towards the channel's closure are being followed by the Foreign Ministry which forwards any related information from the Interior Ministry to Danish officials.

Roj-TV has been a subject of debate since Turkey requested that Danish officials ban the channel on the grounds that it had proven links with the PKK. Late last year, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan boycotted a news conference with his Danish counterpart Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Copenhagen to protest the presence of Roj-TV journalists there.

Cicek also said that Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul is informed on the issue and a file containing recent information has been sent to the Foreign Ministry.

"In my opinion, according to information collected to date, Roj-TV must be closed. It's very clear. It's known that the channel supports the PKK; there's no doubt about it. Top PKK officials have delivered speeches on the channel," said Cicek, "If Denmark wants to close Roj-TV, there's enough evidence."

Source : The New Anatolian

20.04.2006