U-S / TURKEY (S-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN/STATE DEPT.

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

DATE=7/7/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-181621

TITLE=U-S / TURKEY (S-O)

BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN

DATELINE=STATE DEPT.

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS GIVING TURKEY FULL SUPPORT IN ITS LATEST OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH GUERRILLAS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THAT SUPPORT INCLUDES TURKEY'S USE OF AMERICAN WEAPONS.

TEXT: TURKISH OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO ANKARA THAT THE LATEST OFFENSIVE IS AIMED AGAINST GUERRILLAS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, THE P-K-K, IN RESPONSE TO THE GROUP'S TWO RECENT CROSS BORDER ATTACKS INSIDE TURKEY.

THE UNITED STATES SEES THE P-K-K AS A TERRORIST GROUP AND STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS TURKEY'S USE OF AMERICAN F-16 JETS AND OTHER U-S EQUIPMENT IS JUSTIFIED.

                        /// BURNS ACT ///

THE USE OF U-S SUPPLIED WEAPONS BY ALLIES FOR LEGITIMATE SELF DEFENSE IS ACCEPTABLE UNDER UNITED STATES LAW. WE WOULD CHARACTERIZE THIS SITUATION AS LEGITIMATE SELF DEFENSE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE UNITED STATES ALSO SUPPORTED TURKEY'S LARGER OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ THAT LASTED FROM MARCH 20TH TO MAY 2ND AND WAS ALSO AIMED AT P-K-K BASES. THAT OPERATION WAS HEAVILY CRITICIZED IN WESTERN EUROPE. TURKEY HAS AGAIN ASSURED THE UNITED STATES THAT ITS SOLDIERS ARE MAKING EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES.(SIGNED)

NEB / RP / BD

07-Jul-95 5:50 PM EDT (2150 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America