DATE=9/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238743
TITLE=TURKEY/KURDS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TURKEY SAYS IT OPPOSES ANY PERMANENT KURDISH RULE OVER
TERRITORY IN NORTHERN IRAQ CURRENTLY CONTROLLED BY THE TWO RIVAL
KURDISH FACTIONS. THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY ADDS THAT IRAQ'S
TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY SHOULD NOT BE CHALLENGED OR UNDERMINED IN
ANY WAY. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.
TEXT: SPEAKING WEDNESDAY AT A WEEKLY BRIEFING FOR THE FOREIGN
PRESS, TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN NECATI UTKAN SAID
OPPOSES WHAT HE DESCRIBES AS A PERMANENT KURDISH ADMINISTRATION
IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
MR. UTKAN WAS REFERRING TO A PROPOSED PEACE AGREEMENT BEING
BROKERED BY THE UNITED STATES BETWEEN THE MAIN KURDISH FACTIONS
IN NORTHERN IRAQ WHICH REPORTEDLY CALLS FOR THE FORMATION OF A
KURDISH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT.
MASSOUD BARZANI OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR K-D-P AND
JALAL TALABANI OF THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN OR P-U-K ARE
SCHEDULED TO MEET IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK IN THEIR FIRST
FACE-TO-FACE ENCOUNTER SINCE THEY WENT TO WAR FOUR YEARS AGO.
THE TWO KURDISH LEADERS ARE WIDELY EXPECTED TO DISCUSS
ESTABLISHING AN INTERIM REGIONAL GOVERNMENT.
KURDS HAVE CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ SINCE THE END OF THE 1991
PERSIAN GULF WAR. THAT IS WHEN ALLIED FORCES, LED BY THE UNITED
STATES, ESTABLISHED A "NO-FLY" ZONE TO PROTECT THE KURDS AGAINST
POSSIBLE ATTACK BY IRAQI TROOPS. THE SO-CALLED KURDISH SAFE
HAVEN IS PROTECTED BY ALLIED WAR PLANES BASED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY.
TURKISH OFFICIALS FEAR THAT FORMATION OF ANY KURDISH GOVERNMENT
IN NORTHERN IRAQ WILL FORM THE BASIS FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH
STATE, AND THAT THIS IN TURN WILL LIKELY TRIGGER DEMANDS FOR
INDEPENDENCE FROM TURKEY'S OWN RESTIVE ETHNIC KURDISH POPULATION.
//REST OPT// TURKISH TROOPS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING REBELS OF THE
KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS. THE P-K-K SAYS IT
WANTS SELF RULE, NOT INDEPENDENCE, FOR TURKEY'S ESTIMATED 12
MILLION KURDS. OVER 30-THOUSAND HAVE DIED IN THE CONFLICT, SO
FAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
16-Sep-98 9:56 AM EDT (1356 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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