Topic: voa
Subject: U-S / TURKEY (L ONLY) by RON PEMSTEIN/STATE DEPARTMENT
From: Yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
Topic: voa

DATE=4/6/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-176712
TITLE=U-S / TURKEY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAYS AMERICAN 
SUPPORT FOR TURKEY IS DEPENDENT ON TURKEY CARRYING OUT 
COMMITMENTS TO KEEP ITS MILITARY OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ 
LIMITED IN SCOPE AND DURATION. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM 
THE STATE DEPARTMENT.

TEXT:  TURKEY HAS GIVEN THE UNITED STATES A RENEWED COMMITMENT 
THAT ITS OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ WILL  NOT  LAST LONG AND 
THAT HUMAN RIGHTS WILL BE RESPECTED AS THE TURKISH MILITARY 
SEARCHES FOR SUSPECTED TERRORISTS.

SPEAKING ALONGSIDE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, 
MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ERDAL INONU 
REPEATED THOSE ASSURANCES AND AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR TURKEY DEPENDS
ON THEM.

                      ///CHRISTOPHER ACT///

         I PRESSED HIM FOR A RESTATEMENT OF THAT AND I TOLD HIM I
         THOUGHT THAT OUR SUPPORT FOR TURKEY AND OUR 
         UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION WAS DEPENDENT UPON 
         CARRYING OUT THAT COMMITMENT AND I THINK THERE WAS AN 
         UNDERSTANDING ON HIS PART OF MY POINT OF VIEW ON THAT 
         SUBJECT.

                          ///END ACT///

THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THAT 
TURKEY FACES A SEVERE TERRORIST PROBLEM FROM THE KURDISH WORKERS 
PARTY, THE  P-K-K. HE ADDS THE UNITED STATES EXPECTS TURKEY TO 
DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMMITMENTS TO 
RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS.

BOTH MR. CHRISTOPHER AND THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER SAY  NO  
INTERNATIONAL SOLUTION FOR THE LONG TERM IN NORTHERN IRAQ WAS 
DISCUSSED. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SUGGESTS TURKEY SHOULD TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN 
EUROPE IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM.

BOTH SIDES RECOGNIZE THERE IS A SECURITY VACUUM IN NORTHERN IRAQ 
THAT ALLOWS ANTI-TURKISH KURDS TO BASE THEMSELVES THERE.  AT THE 
SAME TIME, THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO MAINTAIN THE TURKISH-BASED 
RELIEF OPERATION FOR IRAQI KURDS KNOWN AS PROVIDE COMFORT. 

AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE REPORTS OF HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES CARRIED OUT BY TURKISH FORCES IN IRAQ, AS WELL AS 
THE  LENGTH OF THE OPERATION. THEY ARE ALSO WORRIED TURKEY IS 
DAMAGING  ITS STANDING IN WESTERN EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS BY 
CONDUCTING A PROTRACTED CROSS-BORDER ACTION.

DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT ARRIVES IN ANKARA NEXT 
WEEK AND, THE FOLLOWING WEEK, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER
MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE. (SIGNED)

NEB/RP/BG

06-Apr-95 3:22 PM EDT (1922 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America