Subject: TURKEY/U-S (L ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN/ANKARA
Topic: voa
From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
DATE=4/14/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-177054
TITLE=TURKEY/U-S (L ONLY)
BYLINE= AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE= ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER LEAVES SATURDAY FOR 
THE UNITED STATES, WHERE SHE IS EXPECTED TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT 
BILL CLINTON.  AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE VISIT 
PROMISES TO BE A DIFFICULT ONE AS WESTERN PRESSURE MOUNTS ON 
TURKEY TO END ITS NEARLY MONTH OLD MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN 
IRAQ AGAINST REBEL KURDS.  

TEXT:  NEARLY A MONTH AFTER 35-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS SWEPT INTO
NORTHERN IRAQ TO TRACK DOWN REBELS OF THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN 
WORKERS' PARTY OR P-K-K AND TO DESTROY THEIR MOUNTAIN BASES, 
TURKEY HAS YET TO ANNOUNCE A TARGET WITHDRAWAL DATE FROM THE 
IRAQI-KURDISH CONTROLLED ENCLAVE. 

HOPES AMONG WESTERN DIPLOMATS WERE THAT ANKARA WOULD ANNOUNCE A 
TIMETABLE AHEAD OF MRS. CILLER'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON. HOPES NOW 
AMONG TURKEY'S WESTERN ALLIES ARE THAT SHE WILL DO SO DURING HER 
MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON SCHEDULED FOR THIS COMING 
WEDNESDAY.

TURKEY CONTINUES TO MAINTAIN THAT THE TROOPS WILL BE PULLED OUT 
ONCE THEIR MISSION IS COMPLETED.  IN PRIVATE, TURKISH OFFICIALS 
SAY THAT UNTIL A MECHANISM FOR PREVENTING FUTURE P- K-K ATTACKS 
FROM NORTHERN IRAQ IS WORKED OUT TURKISH TROOPS WILL BE KEPT IN 
PLACE.

ONE OF MRS. CILLER'S AIMS DURING HER VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES 
THE OFFICIALS ADD WILL BE TO WORK OUT SUCH A FORMULA.  U-S DEPUTY
SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT WHO WAS IN ANKARA EARLIER THIS 
WEEK CONVEYED THE CLINTON'S ADMINISTRATION'S BELIEF THAT FOR NOW 
TURKEY'S BEST CHANCE OF SECURING ITS BORDERS WITH IRAQ WOULD BE 
TO COOPERATE WITH THE MAIN IRAQI KURDISH FACTIONS THERE.  

A DELEGATION FROM MASSOUD BARZANI'S KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR
K-D-P IS EXPECTED IN ANKARA NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS DETAILS OF THE 
PROPOSED SECURITY ARRANGEMENT.  

OTHER ISSUES LIKELY TO COME UP DURING THE TALKS, AMERICAN 
OFFICIALS SAY IS RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE PASSAGE OF A 
LONG-DELAYED DEMOCRATIC REFORMS BILL BY THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT. 

MOUNTING CONCERN OVER ALLEGED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES IN TURKEY AND 
THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTH-EAST REGION IN PARTICULAR LED THE 
AMERICAN CONGRESS TO REDUCE DIRECT MILITARY AID TO THE ANKARA 
GOVERNMENT BY TEN PERCENT LAST YEAR.

MRS. CILLER ARGUES THAT THE MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN IRAQ IS
PARTLY INTENDED TO PREPARE TURKISH PUBLIC OPINION FOR THE 
INTRODUCTION OF DEMOCRATIC REFORMS, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE EASING 
CURRENT BANS ON KURDISH EDUCATION AND BROADCASTING.

IT IS A THEME SHE IS LIKELY TO PROPOUND DURING MEETINGS SCHEDULED
WITH PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN MEDIA.

OTHER TOPICS ON THE AGENDA INCLUDE TURKISH-GREEK RELATIONS WITH 
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON CYPRUS AS WELL AS ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN 
TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/MH/MMK

14-Apr-95 11:07 AM EDT (1507 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America