On Turkey & PKK, UN's Ban Ki-moon Hopes for Dialogue, Then Recites on Terrorism, As If On Demand

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, July 27 -- Of Turkey's letter to the UN Security Council, Inner City Press asked UNSC President Gerard von Bohemen of New Zealand on the afternoon of July 27. Inner City Press was informed that it had been received and circulated; at least this was a straight-forward answer.

   UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, by contrast, issued one statement after the day's noon briefing - and that another.  At the noon briefing, Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Ban spoke “over the weekend to the Prime Minister of Turkey.  They spoke on regional issues — that is what I can share with you.”

  More than two hours later at 2:41 pm, Ban's spokesperson's office sent this out:

  “In response to questions on Turkey asked at the Monday noon briefing, the Spokesman had the following to say:

“The Secretary-General is concerned by the latest escalation of tension between Turkey and PKK elements. He expresses the hope that there will be an immediate return to constructive dialogue in order to continue to find a peaceful solution to the challenge at hand. The Secretary-General calls on all concerned to refrain from returning to a deadly conflict which has in the past brought so much suffering and grief to the people of Turkey.”

  But apparently calling for a return to dialogue didn't go down well in come quarters. So more than five hours later at 7:52 pm Ban's spokesperson's office put out a second statement:

“In response to further questions asked after the Noon Briefing on the recent attacks in Turkey, the Spokesman said:

 “The Secretary-General expresses his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Turkey in the face of recent violent terrorist attacks, which have claimed the lives of a number of citizens and injured many others.”

  It seems that if Turkey wants another statement, they'll get one. Watch this site.