Topic: voa
Subject: TURKEY/KURDS (L ONLY) by AMBERIN ZAMAN
From: Yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
Topic: voa

DATE=4/4/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-176549
TITLE= TURKEY/KURDS (L ONLY) 
BYLINE= AMBERIN ZAMAN 
DATELINE= ANKARA  
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TURKEY HAS SENT A HIGH-RANKING DIPLOMATIC DELEGATION
TO NORTHERN IRAQ TO PERSUADE IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS TO HELP
KEEP TURKISH KURD SEPARATISTS OUT OF THE REGION. AMBERIN
ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.
 
TEXT: THE DELEGATION, LED BY AMBASSADOR CENK DUATEPE -- THE
FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR RESEARCH AND
INTELLIGENCE -- WILL FIRST MEET WITH MASSOUD BARZANI, LEADER OF
THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRAT PARTY OR K-D-P.
 
TURKISH OFFICIALS HERE CONFIRM THE DELEGATION WILL SOUND OUT
MR BARZANI ON THE POSSIBILITY OF REVIVING AN AGREEMENT
SIGNED WITH HIM IN 1992.  UNDER THAT PACT, MR. BARZANI'S 
PESHMERGA FORCES WOULD POLICE PARTS OF THE IRAQI TURKISH BORDER 
UNDER K-D-P CONTROL IN EXCHANGE FOR FINANCIAL AID.
 
THE AGREEMENT WAS NEVER FULLY IMPLEMENTED, THE SAME OFFICIALS
SAY, BECAUSE HARDLINERS WITHIN THE MILITARY AND PRIME MINISTER
TANSU CILLER'S TRUE PATH PARTY HAD BLOCKED IT ON THE GROUNDS THE 
IRAQI KURDS COULD NOT BE TRUSTED TO HONOR THEIR SIDE OF THE DEAL.
 
THE HARDLINERS' DEEP DISTRUST FELT STEMS FROM PAST COOPERATION
BETWEEN THE IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS AND SEPARATIST REBELS OF THE 
KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K
 
THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT MOVED 35-THOUSAND TROOPS INTO NORTHERN 
IRAQ IN MID-MARCH TO DESTROY CAMPS USED BY THE P-K-K TO MOUNT 
CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS AGAINST TURKKISH MILITARY TARGETS.
 
TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THAT EVEN HARDLINERS WITHIN THE
GOVERNMENT AKNOWLEDGE THE NECCESSITY OF COMING TO TERMS WITH
MR BARZANI IF THE BORDER IS TO BE PERMANENTLY SECURED --
ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF MOUNTING WESTERN PRESSURE FOR
TURKISH TROOPS TO WITHDRAW FROM NORTHERN IRAQ.
 
IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS HERE CONFIRM THE TURKISH DELEGATION
WILL ALSO SOUND OUT MR BARZANI ON THE POSSIBLITY OF HIS
RESUMING TALKS WITH HIS CHIEF RIVAL, JALAL TALABANI.  MR. 
TALABANI HEADS THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN, OR P-U-K.
 
THE TWO MAIN IRAQI KURDISH FACTIONS HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN A
DEADLY POWER STRUGGLE SINCE MAY LAST YEAR. IRAQI KURDISH
OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE 
CLASHES.
 
ANKARA HAS LINKED ITS INCURSION IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO THE
FIGHTING, SAYING IT HAS CREATED A POWER VACUUM ALONG THE
TURKISH IRAQI BORDER WHICH THE P-K-K IS SEEKING TO FILL.
 
THE TURKISH DELEGATION IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MEET WITH MR
TALABANI AND PRESENT HIM  WITH THE SIMILIAR PROPOSALS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/MAH

04-Apr-95 10:04 AM EDT (1404 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America