TURKEY-U.S.: Big Arms Sale in Limbo

By Haider Rizvi Reprint | | Print |

Haider Rizvi

WASHINGTON, Dec 27 1994 (IPS) - A debate on human rights versus strategic interests has delayed the granting of an export license to a local company to sell the latest in cluster bombs to Turkey.

In June this year, the Alliant Techsystem, a U.S. company signed a contract to provide 493 CBU 87 (cluster bombs) to the Turkish Ministry of Defence. However, the U.S. State Department has yet to issue the necessary export license to permit deliveries.

The U.S. intends to sell the cluster bombs, but the issue has become controversial because of massive human rights abuses by the Turkish Government against the Kurds, according to defence trade watchers here.

There is a tense debate taking place in the State and Defence departments over whether or not to permit Alliant Techsystems, to sell the bombs to Turkey. Officials say that a decision is not imminent.

“There are confusing signals emerging from the State Department. The decision is going to be delayed. But if the State Department decided to permit the supply of these weapons, it would have bad consequences for the U.S.,” a source close to the State Department told IPS.

The source said the U.S. Congress knows nothing about the issue yet and many in the Congress are opposed to the sale of arms to Turkey and other countries seen as violators of human rights.

The debate centres on whether or not withholding the license for the sale would damage U.S. strategic interests and the fear that the bombs, if sold, could eventually be used against the Kurdish minority who oppose the government.

The State Department is being pressured by human rights activists not to allow the sale.

“The State Department should under no circumstances approve the sale of this weapon — which has a potential for misuse — to the Turkish Government, which has an abominable human rights record,”says Stephen Goose, a director of Human Rights Watch.

Goose says his organisation is “deeply concerned” that Turkey will use cluster bombs indiscriminately in its conflict with Kurdish rebels.

“It will have devastating effects on the civilian population,” he said.