Voice of America, 96-10-10

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] THURSDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[02] A NEWLY TROUBLED TURKEY BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[03] E-U / SANTER (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

[04] GERMANY / KOSOVO (L) RERUN BY KYLE KING (BONN)

[05] TURKEY/LIBYA/U-S BY DEBORAH COOPER (WASHINGTON)

[01] THURSDAY'S HEADLINES BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE AMERICAN PRESS IS GROWING INCREASINGLY CONCERNED OVER TURKEY'S NEW PRO-ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT AS EVIDENCED BY THE PROLIFERATION OF EDITORIALS ON THE SUBJECT IN THURSDAY'S NEWSPAPERS. AMONG TODAY'S OTHER OPINION TOPICS: THE I-R-A BOMBING IN NORTHERN IRELAND; LAST NIGHT'S VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE; ACCUSATIONS OF ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN FINANCING; THE TALEBAN TAKEOVER IN AFGHANISTAN, AND A SUCCESS STORY FROM AFRICA. NOW, HERE WITH A CLOSER LOOK IS _________________ AND TODAY'S U-S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: EVER SINCE TURKEY FORMED A GOVERNMENT WITH AN ISLAMIC PRIME MINISTER A FEW MONTHS AGO, U-S PAPERS HAVE BEEN NERVOUS ABOUT THE FUTURE THIS KEY NATO ALLY. NOW, AFTER A REBUKE TO PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN BY LIBYA'S MOAMMAR GADHAFI, TURKEY'S FOREIGN POLICY HAS JUMPED TO THE TOP OF MANY EDITORIAL PAGES. TODAY'S NEWSDAY IN NEW YORK IS TYPICAL, SAYING: "IT'S TIME TO TAKE OFF THE KID GLOVES [STOP MUTING CRITICISM OF] WITH TURKEY." THE EDITORIAL CONTINUES:

VOICE: "[LIBYA'S COLONEL] GADHAFI, TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE BUT [MR.] ERBAKAN'S, WAS INSULTING AND HIGH-HANDED, UP-BRAIDING [CRITICIZING] TURKEY FOR ITS TIES TO NATO AND ISRAEL, CALLING ITS FOREIGN POLICY 'WRONG FROM A TO Z', DESCRIBING IT AS A NATION UNDER DIRECT AMERICAN CONTROL, ACCUSING IT OF FORGETTING ISLAM AND -- THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE -- DEMANDING THAT TURKEY GIVE UP PART OF ITS SOVEREIGN TERRITORY TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT KURDISTAN... [MR. ERBAKAN'S] DISASTROUS VISIT TO LIBYA IS GIVING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AN OPENING TO GET TOUGH ON [HIS] POLICY OF CONSORTING WITH THIS NATION'S LEAST-FAVORED DESPOT."

TEXT: SAYS TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE: "[MR.] ERBAKAN HAS LEARNED THE HARD WAY A CRUCIAL TRUTH OF MIDEAST STATECRAFT: THAT IS THE NATURE OF ROUGE LEADERS TO ACT ROGUISH." WHILE THE LOS ANGELES TIMES CALLS THE WHOLE INCIDENT -- IN ITS WORDS -- "FUMBLING AT THE TOP IN TURKEY," ADDING:

VOICE: "MANY TURKS ARE EAGER TO CEMENT THEIR TIES WITH THE WEST BY GAINING ENTRY INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION. [MR.] ERBAKAN'S ATTEMPTS TO DRAW CLOSER TO IRAN AND THE MOST ANTI-WESTERN OF THE ARAB STATES ARE UNLIKELY TO ADVANCE THAT PROSPECT. [MR.] ERBAKAN WAS ELECTED WITH ONLY 21-PERCENT OF THE VOTE. HIS TENURE MAY BE A SHORT ONE, THANKS TO HIS OWN INEPT ACTIONS."

TEXT: AND IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES, THIS DISMAL ASSESSMENT:

VOICE: "IF ANYONE WAS WONDERING WHAT DIRECTION TURKEY MIGHT TAKE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, FOLLOWING THE INSTATEMENT OF NECMETTIN ERBAKAN AS PRIME MINISTER, THE WAIT IS OVER AND THE NEWS IS ALL BAD. CLEARLY, MR. ERBAKAN HAS DECIDED THAT TURKEY SHOULD TAKE ITS PLACE AS AN EASTERN COUNTRY WITH MIDDLE EAST DICTATORSHIPS LIKE IRAN AND LIBYA AS ITS FRIENDS... THE UNITED STATES CORRECTLY SEES TURKEY AS A WESTERN DEMOCRACY, AS DO THE MAJORITY OF TURKS. THE TIME HAS COME FOR BOTH TO WORK TO MAINTAIN THAT REALITY."

TEXT: WITH REGARDS TO THIS WEEK'S I-R-A BOMBINGS IN NORTHERN IRELAND, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER WRITES:

VOICE: "THE IRISH REPUBLICAN ARMY SEEMS DETERMINED TO BOMB ITSELF OUT OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE PROCESS AND INTO IRRELEVANCY... BUT THOSE PEACE TALKS ARE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT ALL PARTIES, UNIONIST AND REPUBLICAN, MUST ENDORSE NON-VIOLENCE. THE MAIN REASON SINN FEIN ISN'T ALLOWED TO THE (NEGOTIATING) TABLE IS THE I-R-A'S REFUSAL TO RESTORE THE CEASEFIRE IT BROKE EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH VICIOUS BOMBINGS IN LONDON AND MANCHESTER. CAN I-R-A MILITARY LEADERS REALLY BELIEVE THAT MORE BOMBINGS WILL CHANGE THAT?"

TEXT: THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS NOTES THE I-R-A CHARGE THAT BRITAIN BARES RESPONSIBLITY FOR THE BOMBINGS BECAUSE IT REFUSES TO ALLOW SINN FEIN LEADER GERRY ADAMS TO REJOIN THE PEACE PROCESS. BUT THAT, SAYS THE PAPER, IS SO MUCH BLACKMAIL:

VOICE: "IN SOME SMALL CIRCLES, THE I-R-A'S STATEMENT PASSES FOR LOGIC. IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY, IT IS CALLED BLACKMAIL... IT IS EVIDENT THE I-R-A WANTS NO PART OF A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT -- NO MATTER WHO SITS AT THE TABLE. PEACE IS, AFTER ALL, THE ANTITHESIS OF ALL IT STANDS FOR."

TEXT: ON LAST NIGHT'S DEBATE BETWEEN THE MAJOR CANDIDATES FOR VICE PRESIDENT, INCUMBENT AL GORE AND REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER JACK KEMP, THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLS THE CONFRONTATION: "A REHEARSAL FOR (THE YEAR) TWO-THOUSAND."

VOICE: "THE ... CANDIDATES DEVOTED MOST OF THEIR ... DEBATE ... TO ARGUING ABOUT BOB DOLE'S TAX PLAN, THE VALUE OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION AND THE FUTURE OF THE INNER CITIES. IT WAS THE DEBATE ABOUT VISION THAT MR. DOLE AND PRESIDENT CLINTON MIGHT HAVE HAD THIS WEEK, BUT DID NOT... IT WAS [ALSO] A PROMISING REHEARSAL FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE ... THE POLITICS OF SUBSTANCE IS WORTH PURSUING, NO MATTER HOW DULL IT GETS."

TEXT: STILL WITH POLITICS, THE CITIZEN WATCHDOG GROUP COMMON CAUSE HAS ACCUSED THE TWO MAJOR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS OF CRIMINAL VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW, AND IS CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE, DRAWING THIS RESPONSE FROM THE WASHINGTON POST.

VOICE: "THE [CAMPAIGN FINANCE] LAW IS NOT A GAME, AND THE PEOPLE WHO BREAK IT OUGHT TO GO TO JAIL. NOW THERE'S A NOVEL VIEW OF WHAT THIS IS ABOUT. THE CURRENT SYSTEM [OF CAMPAIGN FINANCING] IS A CHARADE. THE LETTER [FROM COMMON CAUSE] SAYS TO AUTHORITY: ENFORCE THE LAW OR DROP IT; YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS. BUT, OF COURSE, THEY CAN HAVE IT BOTH WAYS -- AND DO."

TEXT: RETURNING TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND THE TAKEOVER OF AFGHANISTAN BY THE RADICAL ISLAMIC TALEBAN MILITIA, THE WASHINGTON POST SAYS:

VOICE: "THIS RADICAL FUNDAMENTALIST DESIGN IS BEING IMPOSED WITHOUT A FLICKER OF CONSULTATION WITH THE PEOPLE AFFECTED. AS A RESULT, AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK THOUSANDS OF EDUCATED MIDDLE-CLASS, PROFESSIONALS ARE FLEEING, AND OTHERS ALREADY ABROAD ARE NOT RETURNING. THUS IS A WAR-RAVAGED COUNTRY BEING FURTHER DEPRIVED OF MANY OF ITS MOST ESSENTIAL CONTRIBUTING CITIZENS... IT WOULD BE CRUEL IF THE AFGHAN PEOPLE, JUST AS THEY NEARED THE POSSIBLE END OF AN UNBELIEVABLE 18-YEAR ORDEAL, FOUND THEMSELVES ISOLATED INTERNATIONALLY AND WEARING A TOTALITARIAN YOKE AT HOME."

TEXT: AND LASTLY, TODAY'S PORTLAND [MAINE] PRESS HERALD REPORTS A RARE SUCCESS STORY FROM AFRICA, FOLLOWING THE TRIP TO SEVERAL AFRICAN NATIONS BY SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER.

VOICE: "MALI IS AN 'OASIS OF FREEDOM, A CHAMPION OF DEMOCRACY AND A CLOSE PARTNER OF THE UNITED STATES, SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAID ON ARRIVAL IN THE MALIAN CAPITAL OF BAMAKO THIS WEEK. WHO SAYS A MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY CAN'T WORK IN AN IMPOVERISHED THIRD WORLD COUNTRY WHERE EVERYDAY SURVIVAL IS A STRUGGLE? BECAUSE MALI CHOSE THE PATH OF ITS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FUTURE WISELY, THE TIME MAY NOT BE FAIR OFF WHEN ITS PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE TO STRUGGLE JUST TO SURVIVE."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS BRIEF SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL COMMENT FROM THURSDAY'S U-S PRESS.
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10-Oct-96 11:10 AM EDT (1510 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] A NEWLY TROUBLED TURKEY BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: EVER SINCE TURKEY'S ISLAMIC PRIME MINISTER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN TOOK OFFICE IN JULY, WESTERN OBSERVERS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THIS VITAL NATO ALLY'S FUTURE LOYALTY. WOULD TURKEY, A LONG-TIME SECULAR DEMOCRACY, BEGIN LEANING TOWARD ITS ISLAMIC NEIGHBORS, OR MAINTAIN ITS PRO-WESTERN STANCE IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS. RECENT EVENTS INDICATE THE WEST'S FEARS MAY HAVE SOME VALIDITY, AND THAT CONCERN IS BEING REFLECTED ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF THE U-S PRESS. FOR A LOOK AT SOME OF THAT COMMENT, HERE IS ___________________WITH TODAY'S U-S OPINION ROUNDUP.

TEXT: A DIVIDED ELECTORATE NARROWLY ELECTED PRIME MINISTER ERBAKAN'S ISLAMIC PARTY AFTER IT HAD ENGAGED IN A POPULAR PROGRAM OF EXTENDING SOCIAL SERVICES TO SOME OF TURKEY'S POOREST PEOPLE. HIS MAIN OPPONENT WAS THE FORMER, PRO-WESTERN PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER, BUT SHE HAD BEEN POLITICALLY INJURED EARLIER IN THE YEAR BY A CORRUPTION SCANDAL. THE SHAKY COALITION THAT EVOLVED SAW MR. ERBAKAN EMERGE AS TURKEY'S FIRST ISLAMIC PRIME MINISTER EVER, WITH MS. CILLER AS HIS DEPUTY.

WESTERN ANALYSTS, WONDERING WHETHER THIS "SEA CHANGE" IN LEADERSHIP OF A CRITICAL NATO ALLY MEANT A MORE PRO-ISLAMIC FOREIGN POLICY, DID NOT HAVE LONG TO WAIT. MR. ERBAKAN EMBARKED ON A SERIES OF VISITS TO, OR MADE COMMERCIAL DEALS WITH, SOME OF TURKEY'S ISLAMIC NEIGHBORS, INCLUDING IRAN, IRAQ AND, MOST RECENTLY, LIBYA.

LIBYA'S UNPREDICTABLE MILITARY DICTATOR MOAMMAR GADHAFI EMBARRASSED MR. ERBAKAN BY CRITICIZING TURKEY'S ASSOCIATION WITH NATO, ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES, AND THEN DELIVERED THE MOST SERIOUS AFFRONT BY CALLING FOR KURDISH SOVEREIGNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY. IN ANKARA, THERE WERE CALLS FOR MR. ERBAKAN'S RESIGNATION, WHILE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, MUCH OF THE PRESS AGREED THAT HE HAD COMMITTED SOME FOOLISH FOREIGN POLICY BLUNDERS. WE BEGIN OUR SAMPLE OF EDITORAL COMMENT WITH THE NEW YORK TIMES.

VOICE: "TURKEY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, IS NOT LIKELY TO RETURN TO LIBYA ANYTIME SOON. IN A DISASTROUS ENCOUNTER LAST SATURDAY ... COLONEL GADHAFI GREETED MR. ERBAKAN WITH A CAUSTIC INDICTMENT OF TURKEY, INCLUDING ITS MEMBERSHIP IN NATO AND THE USE OF ITS AIR BASES BY AMERICAN FORCES. FOR GOOD MEASURE, THE COLONEL ENDORSED KURDISH SEPARATISM, A CAUSE LONG OPPOSED BY TURKEY. MR. ERBAKAN LEFT LIBYA WITHOUT OFFERING A FORCEFUL REJOINDER, ASSURING A FROSTY WELCOME WHEN HE RETURNED TO ANKARA... IF HIS GOVERNMENT SURVIVES THE RESULTING FUROR ... MR. ERBAKAN WOULD BE WISE TO RECONSIDER AN IMPULSIVE DIPLOMATIC STRATEGY THAT FAR EXCEEDS THE LIMITED ELECTORAL MANDATE OF HIS ISLAMIC-ORIENTED WELFARE PARTY..."

TEXT: NEW YORK'S LONG ISLAND NEWSDAY TAKES A TOUGH STAND, DECLAING, "IT'S TIME TO TAKE OFF THE KID GLOVES [STOP MUTING CRITICISM OF] WITH TURKEY." THE EDITORIAL CONTINUES:

VOICE: "[LIBYA'S COLONEL] GADHAFI, TO NO ONE'S SURPRISE BUT [MR.] ERBAKAN'S, WAS INSULTING AND HIGH-HANDED, UP-BRAIDING [CRITICIZING] TURKEY FOR ITS TIES TO NATO AND ISRAEL, CALLING ITS FOREIGN POLICY 'WRONG FROM A TO Z', DESCRIBING IT AS A NATION UNDER DIRECT AMERICAN CONTROL, ACCUSING IT OF FORGETTING ISLAM AND -- THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE -- DEMANDING THAT TURKEY GIVE UP PART OF ITS SOVEREIGN TERRITORY TO CREATE AN INDEPENDENT KURDISTAN... [MR. ERBAKAN'S] DISASTROUS VISIT TO LIBYA IS GIVING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AN OPENING TO GET TOUGH ON [HIS] POLICY OF CONSORTING WITH THIS NATION'S LEAST-FAVORED DESPOT."

TEXT: IN NEW ENGLAND, THE BOSTON GLOBE SAYS: "[MR.] ERBAKAN HAS LEARNED THE HARD WAY A CRUCIAL TRUTH OF MIDEAST STATECRAFT: THAT IS THE NATURE OF ROUGE LEADERS TO ACT ROGUISH." WHILE THE LOS ANGELES TIMES CALLS THE WHOLE INCIDENT -- IN ITS WORDS -- "FUMBLING AT THE TOP IN TURKEY," ADDING:

VOICE: "MANY TURKS ARE EAGER TO CEMENT THEIR TIES WITH THE WEST BY GAINING ENTRY INTO THE EUROPEAN UNION. [MR.] ERBAKAN'S ATTEMPTS TO DRAW CLOSER TO IRAN AND THE MOST ANTI-WESTERN OF THE ARAB STATES ARE UNLIKELY TO ADVANCE THAT PROSPECT. [MR.] ERBAKAN WAS ELECTED WITH ONLY 21-PERCENT OF THE VOTE. HIS TENURE MAY BE A SHORT ONE, THANKS TO HIS OWN INEPT ACTIONS."

TEXT: AND IN THE WASHINGTON TIMES, THIS DISMAL ASSESSMENT:

VOICE: "IF ANYONE WAS WONDERING WHAT DIRECTION TURKEY MIGHT TAKE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA, FOLLOWING THE INSTATEMENT OF NECMETTIN ERBAKAN AS PRIME MINISTER, THE WAIT IS OVER AND THE NEWS IS ALL BAD. CLEARLY, MR. ERBAKAN HAS DECIDED THAT TURKEY SHOULD TAKE ITS PLACE AS AN EASTERN COUNTRY WITH MIDDLE EAST DICTATORSHIPS LIKE IRAN AND LIBYA AS ITS FRIENDS... THE UNITED STATES CORRECTLY SEES TURKEY AS A WESTERN DEMOCRACY, AS DO THE MAJORITY OF TURKS. THE TIME HAS COME FOR BOTH TO WORK TO MAINTAIN THAT REALITY."

TEXT: THAT CONCLUDES THIS SAMPLING OF EDITORIAL OPINION FROM THE U-S PRESS ON TURKEY'S ISLAMIC PRIME MINISTER AND THE CONTROVERSY SURROUNDING HIS RECENT TRAVELS TO IRAN AND LIBYA.
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10-Oct-96 2:56 PM EDT (1856 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] E-U / SANTER (L ONLY) BY JOHN FRASER (BRUSSELS)

INTRO: EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT JACQUES SANTER SAYS THE EUROPEAN UNION SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEND SOLDIERS INTO BATTLE. AND HE SAYS E-U GOVERNMENTS SHOULD SURRENDER THEIR RIGHT TO BLOCK JOINT FOREIGN POLICY ACTIONS. JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS MR. SANTER COMPLAINED THAT THE E-U APPEARS ABOUT AS EFFECTIVE IN THE WORLD AS -- IN HIS WORDS -- A TROOP OF BOY SCOUTS.

TEXT: PRESIDENT SANTER WAS DELIVERING A MAJOR SPEECH ON FOREIGN AND DEFENSE MATTERS. HE STRESSED THE NEED, AS HE SEES IT, TO STRENGTHEN THE E-U'S FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY.

MR. SANTER DENIED THAT HE WANTS TO FORM A EUROPEAN ARMY. BUT HE DID SAY THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN E-U ROLE IN DECISIONS TO SEND EUROPEAN SOLDIERS TO WAR.

HE SUGGESTED THAT IN THE POST COLD-WAR ERA, THE DEPLOYMENT OF TROOPS OUTSIDE THE TERRITORY OF E-U NATIONS HAS BECOME AS IMPORTANT AS THE DEFENSE OF EUROPE ITSELF. AND HE URGED EUROPEAN UNION GOVERNMENTS TO CONSIDER GIVING THE E-U A REAL ROLE IN TAKING SUCH DECISIONS.

MR. SANTER ALSO SAID MORE E-U FOREIGN POLICY DECISIONS MUST BE MADE BY MAJORITY VOTE, ENDING THE RIGHT OF INDIVIDUAL NATIONS TO VETO JOINT E-U ACTION.

HE CRITICIZED THE WAY IN WHICH SOME E-U NATIONS ACT ALONE ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY. BUT HE SAID THE SEARCH FOR ABSOLUTE CONSENSUS LEADS TO WEAKNESS, TO WHAT HE CALLED THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR.

HE SAID EUROPE MUST HAVE OTHER AMBITIONS AND OTHER DUTIES THAN TO FORM A COALITION OF BOY SCOUTS. HE SAID EUROPE CANNOT BE JUST WHAT HE CALLED -- A LARGE HUMANITARIAN AGENCY.

PRESIDENT SANTER COMPLAINED THAT WHILE THE E-U IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST AID DONOR, THE UNITED STATES TENDS TO WIN THE CREDIT FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS AROUND THE WORLD. HE SAID EUROPE FINANCED THE RECONSTRUCTION OF SARAJEVO AIRPORT -- BUT ONLY THE AMERICANS WERE INVITED TO THE INAUGURATION OF THE NEW INSTALLATIONS.

HE SAID EUROPE IS REMEMBERED ONLY WHEN THE TIME COMES TO PAY THE BILLS, WARNING THAT IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT THE E-U HAS ONCE AGAIN BEEN SIDELINED IN THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS, WHILE GIVING FIVE TIMES AS MUCH AID TO THE PALESTINIANS AS IS PAID BY THE UNITED STATES. (SIGNED)
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10-Oct-96 2:13 PM EDT (1813 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] GERMANY / KOSOVO (L) RERUN BY KYLE KING (BONN)

INTRO: JUST ONE DAY AFTER GERMANY BEGAN DEPORTING THE FIRST OF ABOUT 320-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES, OFFICIALS HAVE SIGNED A REPATRIATION AGREEMENT WITH THE SERB DOMINATED YUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT. V-O-A'S KYLE KING IN BONN REPORTS MOST OF THE 130-THOUSAND REFUGEES TO BE SENT BACK TO YUGOSLAVIA ARE ETHNIC ALBANIANS FROM THE SERB-CONTROLLED PROVINCE OF KOSOVO, AND FEW WANT TO GO HOME.

TEXT: TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR OLD FADIL MIFTARI HAS BEEN LIVING IN GERMANY SINCE 1992, WHEN HE FLED THE MOSTLY ETHNIC ALBANIAN PROVINCE OF KOSOVO TO AVOID ARREST BY SERBIAN POLICE.

MR. MIFTARI, A FORMER MEDICAL STUDENT AND MEMBER OF THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT IN KOSOVO, SAYS HE IS AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF HE IS SENT BACK TO THE SERB CONTROLLED PROVINCE.

OF COURSE WE ARE AFRAID OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE ARE FORCED TO RETURN HOME NOW, MR. MIFTARI SAYS. IF THE POLITICIANS IN BONN WOULD RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF KOSOVO, WE WOULD BE READY TO GO HOME THE NEXT DAY, BUT UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM IT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION.

GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTER MANFRED KANTHER WHO SIGNED THE AGREEMENT ON THE RETURN OF THE REFUGEES WITH HIS YUGOSLAV COUNTERPART IN BONN, SAYS YUGOSLAVIA HAS PROMISED NONE OF THE REFUGEES WILL FACE ETHNIC DISCRIMINATION.

BUT THAT PROMISE WAS OF LITTLE REASSURANCE TO MR. MIFTARI AND THE SMALL GROUP OF ALBANIAN DEMONSTRATORS WHO GATHERED OUTSIDE THE GERMAN INTERIOR MINISTRY AS THE TREATY WAS BEING SIGNED.

MR. MIFTARI SAYS THE MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT KOSOVO HAS WHAT CAN BE DESCRIBED AS AN APARTHEID SYSTEM, AND, HE NOTES, REFUGEES IN GERMANY HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE IN A FREE AND DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES SAY THE DECISION TO SEND REFUGEES BACK TO KOSOVO WILL ADD FUEL TO AN ALREADY UNSTABLE SITUATION THAT COULD EXPLODE INTO A NEW BALKAN WAR.

THEY SAY THE REFUGEES WILL FACE RETRIBUTION BY SERBIAN AUTHORITIES WHO MAINTAIN TIGHT CONTROL OVER KOSOVO AND REJECT THE IDEA OF INDEPENDENCE.

THE AGREEMENT ON THE RETURN OF REFUGEES FROM YUGOSLAVIA, COMES AS GERMAN AUTHORITIES ARE ALSO MOVING AHEAD WITH THE CONTROVERSIAL DEPORTATION OF 320-THOUSAND BOSNIAN REFUGEES. A 29-YEAR-OLD MAN DESCRIBED AS A CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER WAS SENT HOME WEDNESDAY FROM THE SOUTHERN STATE OF BAVARIA, WHICH HAS VOWED TO DEPORT OTHER LAWBREAKERS WHO DO NOT LEAVE VOLUNTARILY. (SIGNED)
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10-Oct-96 12:02 PM EDT (1602 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY/LIBYA/U-S BY DEBORAH COOPER (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: AN EFFORT BY TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH ISLAMIC NATIONS HAS SHAKEN HIS COALITION GOVERNMENT AND SPARKED INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM. MR. ERBAKAN TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY IN LIBYA LAST WEEK TO ATTACK THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL, AND CLAIMED THAT LIBYA WAS A VICTIM OF TERRORISM. AND THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER SAT BY SILENTLY AS LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI ATTACKED TURKEY'S FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC

TEXT: WHEN NECMETTIN ERBAKAN TOOK OFFICE IN JULY, HE PROMISED TO IMPROVE TIES WITH THE MUSLIM WORLD. WITH THAT IN MIND, MR. ERBAKAN, TURKEY'S FIRST PRIME MINISTER FROM AN ISLAMIC POLITICAL PARTY, PLANNED A SERIES OF VISITS TO RADICAL ISLAMIC REGIMES. HIS FIRST TRIP, TO IRAN, PRODUCED A 21-BILLION DOLLAR GAS PIPELINE DEAL. HE SAID HIS JOURNEY TO LIBYA WAS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THE REPAYMENT OF 300-MILLION DOLLARS LONG OWED BY LIBYA TO TURKISH CONSTRUCTION FIRMS AND TO BOOST TRADE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES. BUT EVEN BEFORE MR. ERBAKAN LEFT FOR TRIPOLI, HIS TRIP WAS UNDER FIRE (CRITICIZED) BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.

OVER THE YEARS, LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI HAS FREQUENTLY MADE STATEMENTS IN SUPPORT OF TURKISH KURDS AND THE P-K-K, A SEPARATIST KURDISH GUERRILLA GROUP FIGHTING THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT.

BEFORE LEAVING TURKEY, PRIME MINISTER ERBAKAN SAID THAT COLONEL GADHAFI WAS NOT A SUPPORTER OF THE P-K-K. TO WHAT MANY SAY MUST HAVE BEEN MR. ERBAKAN'S ASTONISHMENT, THE LIBYAN LEADER IN THE TURKISH LEADER'S PRESENCE MADE A STATEMENT CALLING FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE. AS ALAN MAKOVSKY OF THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY EXPLAINS, THERE IS NO BIGGER TABOO IN TURKISH POLITICAL LIFE THEN THE NOTION OF AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE.

TAPE: CUT ONE - MAKOVSKY "TURKEY HAS BEEN FIGHTING A KURDISH INSURGENCY IN THE SOUTHEAST OF TURKEY LED BY THE P-K-K SINCE 1984. OVER 20-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED. FOR THE TURKS IT IS A PROFOUND, AND DEEPLY-HELD, BELIEF IN TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY THAT THEY ARE FIGHTING FOR. SO THERE IS NO STRONGER INSULT THAT GADHAFI COULD HAVE MADE TO THE TURKS THAN THAT ONE."

TEXT: FROM ALL REPORTS, MR. ERBAKAN SAT BY SILENTLY AS MR. GADHAFI ATTACKED TURKEY'S KURDISH PROBLEM, ITS MEMBERSHIP IN NATO AND ITS RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL. THE INCIDENT PROVOKED POLITICAL OUTRAGE IN TURKEY WITH MANY DEMANDS FOR THE PRIME MINISTER'S RESIGNATION AND THE TABLING OF A NO-CONFIDENCE RESOLUTION. EVEN MR. ERBAKAN'S COALITION PARTNER, THE SECULAR AND CONSERVATIVE TRUE PATH PARTY LEADER, TANSU CILLER, HAS CRITICIZED THE PRIME MINISTER. AND THE TURKISH PRESS REPORTS THAT FIVE MEMBERS OF THE TRUE PATH HAVE DECLARED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE OPPOSITION. MR. ERBAKAN'S COALITION HAS ROUGHLY A FIVE-SEAT MAJORITY IN TURKEY'S PARLIAMENT. STILL, ALAN MAKOVSKY SAYS ITS TOO SOON TO TELL IF MR. ERBAKAN'S POLITICAL STUMBLES IN TRIPOLI COULD COLLAPSE HIS GOVERNMENT.

TAPE: CUT TWO - MAKOVSKY "I WOULD NOT BE TOO HASTY IN DRAWING THAT CONCLUSION THAT THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE SUPPORTERS OF ERBAKAN WITHIN THE OPPOSITION. THERE ARE A HANDFULL OF DEPUTIES WHO WOULD ABSTAIN IF PUSH COMES TO SHOVE (IF NECESSARY) RATHER THAN VOTE DOWN HIS GOVERNMENT... THOSE WHO ARE TECHNICALLY IN THE OPPOSITION. SECOND OF ALL, YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO REPLACE SOMETHING. AND RIGHT NOW, AT LEAST AT THIS POINT, IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT THE OPPOSITION IS SUFFICIENTLY UNIFIED TO HAVE A REPLACEMENT GOVERNMENT."

TEXT: MR. MAKOVSKY SAYS THE IMPACT OF MR. ERBAKAN'S VISIT COULD BE DILUTED BY A NEW ISSUE WHICH IS EMERGING, AND THAT IS THE REACTION OF TURKEY TO CRITICISM FROM THE UNITED STATES OF THE L.IBYAN TRIP. TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS MADE A POINT OF SAYING THAT WHATEVER MAY HAVE HAPPENED IN LIBYA AND HOWEVER IMPORTANT U-S TIES ARE TO TURKEY, IT IS TURKEY'S SOVEREIGN RIGHT FOR ITS OFFICIALS TO MAKE TRIPS WHEREVER IT WISHES.

INDEED, MR. ERBAKAN'S REMARKS IN TRIPOLI WERE ASSAILED BY THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT. THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER DEFENDED COLONEL GADHAFI'S RECORD ON TERRORISM. HE SAID THAT LIBYA DOES NOT SUPPORT TERRORISM AND ADDED THAT NO COUNTRY HAD SUFFERED MORE FROM TERRORISM THAN LIBYA. MR. ERBAKAN IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN ALLUDING TO THE 1986 U-S BOMBING OF LIBYA IN RETALIATION FOR A TERRORIST BOMBING OF A NIGHTCLUB IN GERMANY FREQUENTED BY U-S SERVICEMEN. THE UNITED STATES HOLDS LIBYA RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACK. MOREOVER, MR. ERBAKAN SIGNED A JOINT COMMUNIQUE AT THE END OF HIS TRIP SAYING THAT TURKEY WOULD COOPERATE WITH LIBYA IN COMBATTING TERRORISM.

ALAN MAKOVSKY NOTES THAT DESPITE THE RHETORIC, MR. ERBAKAN'S GOVERNMENT HAS FULFILLED ITS FOREIGN POLICY COMMITMENTS TO THE WEST AND THE UNITED STATES.

TAPE: CUT THREE - MAKOVSKY "TURKEY REMAINS FIRMLY IN NATO. TURKEY EVEN SINCE ERBAKAN TOOK POWER HAS SIGNED A NEW MILITARY AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL DESPITE THE FACT THAT ERBAKAN'S TOP FOREIGN POLICY AIDE SAID THAT AGREEMENT WOULD NOT BE SIGNED. TURKEY HAS REAFFIRMED THE MANDATE OF OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT WHICH ERBAKAN HAD PLEDGED TO GET RID OF."

TEXT: MR. MAKOVSKY ADDS THAT THE REMARKS IN TRIPOLI MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE TONE OF U-S/TURKEY RELATIONS.

TAPE: CUT FOUR - MAKOVSKY "IT EFFECTS OUR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY REGARDING TURKEY. I THINK THAT MR. ERBAKAN'S PRESENCE IN OFFICE AND HIS VARIOUS ANTI-U.S. TIRADES MAKE IT VERY DIFFIUCLT FOR THE U.S. IN ITS PUBLIC DIPLOMACY TO SUPPORT TURKEY IN THE WAY IT TRADITIONALLY HAS AS A SECULAR, DEMOCRATIC, PRO-WESTERN STATE. THE TRADITIONAL POWERS IN TURKEY MAY HAVE THEIR HANDS MOST FIRMLY ON THE REIGNS OF FOREIGN POLICY. BUT MR. ERBAKAN'S RHETORIC CAUSES A LOT OF CONFUSION ABOUT JUST WHERE TURKEY STANDS."

TEXT: MR. MAKOVSKY SAYS THAT CONFUSION WITHIN TURKEY'S GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR WASHINGTON TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES ON TURKEY'S BEHALF AS IT TRADITIONALLY HAS. HE SAYS, FOR INSTANCE, TURKISH OFFICIALS CAME TO WASHINGTON LAST WEEK HOPING TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND OR I-M-F, BUT LEFT EMPTY-HANDED.

TAPE: CUT FIVE - MAKOVSKY "NOW, THERE ARE PROBABLY SOUND ECONOMIC REASONS FOR THAT, PARTICULARY BECAUSE THIS GOVERNMENT, SETTING ASIDE ITS CRITICISM OF THE UNITED STATES, IS PURSUING A HIGHLY POPULISTIC ECONOMIC POLICY WITH WHICH I-M-F ECONOMISTS NO DOUBT TAKE GREAT EXCEPTION. NEVERTHELESS, TRADITIONALLY THE U-S HAS USED ITS INFLUENCE BEHIND THE SCENES TO CONVINCE THE I-M-F TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS (MAKE AN EXTRA EFFORT) IN HELPING TURKEY. THAT WAS NOT THE CASE THIS TIME AND I DON'T THINK IT'S JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THIS HAPPENED WHILE MR. ERBAKAN IS IN OFFICE."

TEXT: ALAN MAKOVSKY OF THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL DO NOTHING TO UNDERMINE TURKEY IN THE LONG TERM, BUT IT CAN BE EXPECTED TO RESPOND TO ACTIONS OR WORDS BY TURKEY'S LEADERS IT DOES NOT BELIEVE TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE U.S. - TURKEY RELATIONSHIP. (SIGNED)
NEB/DC/PCH
10-Oct-96 3:22 PM EDT (1922 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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