CONGRESS-TURKEY (S ONLY) BY PAULA WOLFSON/CONGRESS

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

DATE=6/29/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-181233

TITLE=CONGRESS-TURKEY (S ONLY)

BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON

DATELINE=CONGRESS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

*FYI -- THE CUTS INVOLVED ONLY ECONOMIC AID. MILITARY AID WAS NOT TOUCHED.

INTRO: THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS VOTED TO SLASH ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY. V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS LAWMAKERS APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO THE FOREIGN AID BUDGET TO REDUCE THE ALLOTMENT FOR TURKEY FROM 46 MILLION DOLLARS TO 21 MILLION.

TEXT: THE LANGUAGE WAS ADDED TO THE BILL BY REPUBLICAN JOHN PORTER OF ILLINOIS. HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES MUST SEND A MESSAGE TO TURKEY THAT ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD -- PARTICULARLY REGARDING ITS KURDISH MINORITY -- IS UNACCEPTABLE.

                       ////PORTER ACT////

NO FRIEND -- A TRUE FRIEND -- STANDS ASIDE WHILE HIS FRIEND IS VIOLENTLY ABUSING HIS FAMILY.

                         ///END ACT////

BUT OTHER LAWMAKERS SAY A CUT IN AID SENDS THE WRONG MESSAGE. REPUBLICAN ROBERT LIVINGSTON OF LOUISIANA ARGUES TURKEY IS WORTHY OF U-S ASSISTANCE.

                   ////LIVINGSTON ACTUALITY///

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT AS WELL INTENTIONED AS THE AMENDMENT MAY BE, IT FIDDLES (TINKERS) DANGEROUSLY WITH A U-S STRATEGIC ALLIANCE WITH ONE OF OUR NATO ALLIES AND IT SHOULD BE REJECTED.

                      ///END ACTUALITY////

MR. LIVINGSTON SAYS TURKEY IS IMPORTANT TO THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF THE ALLIANCE, HELPS CONTAIN IRAQ AND -- DESPITE ITS PROBLEMS -- IT IS A SECULAR DEMOCRACY WITH A FREE-MARKET ECONOMY. (SIGNED)

NEB / KK / WOD

29-Jun-95 7:07 AM EDT (1107 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America