Subject: TURKEY / IRAQ (S) By DAVID GOLLUST/WASHINGTON
From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" <dep@bu.edu>
 
DATE=3/22/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-175894
TITLE=TURKEY / IRAQ (S)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  

INTRO:  TURKISH OPPOSITION LEADER MESUT YILMAZ -- IN WASHINGTON  
FOR TALKS WITH ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESSIONAL OFFICIALS -- IS  
EXPRESSING QUALIFIED SUPPORT FOR HIS COUNTRY'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST  
KURDISH GUERRILLAS IN IRAQ.  BUT, AS V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST  
REPORTS, THE FORMER TURKISH PRIME MINISTER SAYS THE CURRENT  
GOVERNMENT HAS MIS-HANDLED THE KURDISH ISSUE OVERALL.

TEXT:  MR. YILMAZ -- WHO HEADS TURKEY'S MAIN OPPOSITION  
MOTHERLAND PARTY -- SAYS HE SUPPORTS THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN  
IRAQ, PROVIDED IT REMAINS TRUE TO ITS DECLARED GOAL.   

MR.YILMAZ SAID AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THAT THE OFFENSIVE --  
TURKEY'S BIGGEST MILITARY OPERATION EVER ON FOREIGN SOIL --  
SHOULD END PROMPTLY, ONCE BASES OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY,  
OR P-K-K, ARE ELIMINATED:

                   ///  YILMAZ ACTUALITY  ///

         OFFICIALLY, THE GOAL OF THE OPERATION IS DECLARED TO  
         NEUTRALIZE THE SPECIFIC TERRORIST BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ
         WHICH ARE USED AS LAUNCHING PADS FOR ATTACKS AGAINST  
         TURKEY.  I THINK THE OPERATION SHOULD BE TERMINATED AS  
         SOON AS THIS GOAL IS ACHIEVED.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. YILMAZ -- TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER IN 1991 AND 1992 -- SAID  
THAT SINCE HE LEFT OFFICE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS REGARDED THE ISSUE  
OF KURDS IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY AS A MATTER OF TERRORISM ONLY.   
HE SAID ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE  
KURDISH MINORITY ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT, BUT ARE BEING NEGLECTED  
BY THE GOVERNMENT OF PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER.  (SIGNED)  

NEB/DAG/JWH

22-Mar-95 11:33 AM EST (1633 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
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