We are writing to you on a matter of considerable urgency.  As you
are aware, a group of Kurds is conducting a fast, now in its second week,
to call attention to the continued imprisonment of former Turkish
Parliamentarian Leyla Zana in Turkey.  Recently 150 of our colleagues,
sent a letter to the President protesting this deplorable action by the
government of Turkey who is punishing Ms. Zana for expressing her views
on its treatment of Turkey's Kurdish minority.  They asked that the
President urge the government of Turkey to immediately release Ms. Zana
and take other appropriate measures.

     We are now reiterating this request to you, asking that you convey
to the Turkish authorities in the strongest possible manner the
unacceptability of punishing Ms. Zana for exercising the rights she is
guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Helsinki
Final Act among other human rights instruments to which Turkey is a party.

     We trust that representations from the highest level of our
government will help convince Turkey that, although we value it as a
friend and ally, we take strong exception to human rights violations such
as those Ms. Zana has suffered, nor can Turkey count on its acceptance
among those countries which place the highest value upon the legitimate
exercise of basic human rights and fundamental freedoms until it ceases
to oppress those among its own citizens who seek only to enjoy these same
rights.

     We thank you for your immediate attention to this request.

Sincerely,

Benjamin A. Gilman, Chairman
Lee Hamilton, Ranking Minority Member