Topic: voa Subject: GERMANY / TURKEY (L) [2] By DAGMAR BREITENBACH/BONN From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/29/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176237 TITLE=GERMANY / TURKEY (L) BYLINE=DAGMAR BREITENBACH DATELINE=BONN CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT IS STEPPING UP PRESSURE ON TURKEY TO END ITS OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH SEPARATIST REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. AS V-O-A'S DAGMAR BREITENBACH REPORTS FROM BONN, GERMANY HAS NOW HALTED A PROMISED SHIPMENT OF MILITARY HARDWARE TO ITS MOST EASTERN NATO PARTNER. TEXT: THE BONN GOVERNMENT HAS CANCELLED A SHIPMENT OF BRIDGE-LAYING ARMORED VEHICLES, AMBULANCES, AND OTHER MILITARY HARDWARE WORTH MORE THAN 100-MILLION DOLLARS. THE SHIPMENT WAS TO BE THE LAST INSTALLMENT OF AN ARMS DEAL TO SEND NATO AND FORMER EAST GERMAN TANKS, WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS TO TURKEY. EARLIER THIS WEEK, THE BONN CABINET DECIDED TO FREEZE MORE THAN 100-MILLION DOLLARS IN SUBSIDIES TO SHIPYARDS BUILDING TWO FRIGATES FOR TURKEY. GERMANY IS A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO TURKEY. THE CANCELLATIONS REFLECT GERMANY'S CONCERN OVER TURKEY'S OFFENSIVE IN IRAQ AGAINST GUERRILLAS FROM THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K. TURKISH MILITARY AND POLITICAL LEADERS HAVE SAID THE CAMPAIGN, INVOLVING 35-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS, IS INTENDED TO DESTROY KURDISH SEPARATIST CAMPS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, AND COULD LAST FOR A LONG TIME. THE BONN GOVERNMENT SAYS AN EXTENDED TURKISH PRESENCE IN IRAQ IS UNACCEPTABLE. ON WEDNESDAY, FOREIGN MINISTER KLAUS KINKEL REPEATED GERMANY'S DEMAND THAT TURKEY WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM IRAQ, AND THAT HUMAN RIGHTS BE RESPECTED. HE NOTED THAT THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE UNITED STATES AGREE ANKARA MUST RESOLVE ITS KURDISH PROBLEM BY POLITICAL MEANS. GERMANY, WHICH HAS A POPULATION OF ALMOST TWO MILLION TURKS, HAS ALSO BEEN THE TARGET OF TURKISH-KURDISH DISPUTES. JUST THIS MONTH, ARSONISTS ATTACKED TURKISH BUSINESSES IN A SERIES OF FIREBOMBINGS THROUGHOUT GERMANY. NO ONE CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY, BUT POLICE SUSPECT KURDISH EXTREMISTS WERE BEHIND THE ATTACKS. LAST WEEKEND, HUNDREDS OF KURDS TOOK TO THE STREETS IN SEVERAL GERMAN CITIES TO PROTEST TURKEY'S MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN IRAQ, AND TO DEMAND ESTABLISHMENT OF A SEPARATE KURDISH HOMELAND IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY. (SIGNED) NEB/DB/SKH 29-Mar-95 7:28 AM EST (1228 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------