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DATE=10/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239868
TITLE=TURKEY/SYRIA (S&L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE GOVERNMENT OF TURKEY SAYS IT IS WILLING TO CONSIDER A
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO ITS DISPUTE WITH NEIGHBORING SYRIA.  BUT 
TURKEY CONTINUES TO THREATEN TO USE FORCE TO END WHAT IT CALLS AN
INDIRECT WAR AGAINST IT, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB
IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU.
TEXT:  TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ TOLD A SPECIAL 
SESSION OF PARLIAMENT WEDNESDAY THE COUNTRY IS NOT TRYING TO 
START A WAR WITH SYRIA.  BUT HE SAID THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT WILL 
TAKE ALL NECESSARY MEASURES TO END WHAT HE CALLED SYRIAN SUPPORT 
FOR TERRORISM.
TURKEY IS DEMANDING SYRIA END LOGISTICAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT FOR
GUERRILLAS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, KNOWN AS THE P-K-K, 
WHICH IS FIGHTING FOR AUTONOMY IN SOUTHEAST TURKEY.  THE TURKISH 
GOVERNMENT IS ALSO SEEKING THE EXTRADITION FROM SYRIA OF P-K-K 
LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN.  
SYRIA DENIES BACKING THE P-K-K OR SHELTERING MR. OCALAN.
                        /// REST OPT ///
THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER'S REMARKS CAME ONE DAY AFTER EGYPTIAN 
PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK VISITED ANKARA SEEKING TO CALM THE 
ESCALATING TENSIONS IN THE REGION.  PRIME MINISTER YILMAZ SAID 
PRESIDENT MUBARAK ASKED FOR A LAST CHANCE FOR DIPLOMACY.  HE SAID
TURKEY WILL STUDY THE IDEA.
THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER SAID HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER 
DIPLOMATIC MEDIATION, BUT SUCH TALKS SHOULD FOCUS ONLY ON THE 
ISSUE OF TERRORISM.
THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT IS ANGRY OVER TURKEY'S INCREASING MILITARY 
TIES WITH ISRAEL, WITH WHOM SYRIA IS STILL OFFICIALLY AT WAR.  
SYRIA IS ALSO UPSET OVER A TURKISH PLAN TO DAM THE WATERS OF THE 
EUPHRATES RIVER WHICH FLOW THROUGH SYRIA.  IT FEARS THE DAMS WILL
AGGRAVATE SYRIA'S ALREADY SERIOUS WATER SHORTAGE.
GOVERNMENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WEDNESDAY URGED DIPLOMATIC 
MEDIATION OF THE DISPUTE BETWEEN SYRIA AND TURKEY.  LEADERS IN 
THE MIDDLE EAST ALSO CALLED FOR DIPLOMACY BEFORE VIOLENCE.
IRAN, WHICH CURRENTLY CHAIRS THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE OF NATIONS, 
SAID THE TWO SIDES SHOULD FAVOR POLITICAL DIALOGUE BEFORE THEY 
RESORT TO THREATS AND MILITARY GESTURES.  THE PALESTINIAN 
AUTHORITY EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER TURKEY'S THREATENING STATEMENTS 
AND CALLED FOR RESOLUTION OF THE DISPUTE THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS. 
LIBYA SAID IT WOULD EXPEL TURKISH COMPANIES IF TURKEY ATTACKS 
SYRIA.
THE NEWSPAPER OF IRAQ'S RULING PARTY ("AL-THAWRA") URGED ARAB 
COUNTRIES TO TAKE A FIRM STAND IN SUPPORT OF SYRIA.  PART OF 
NORTHERN IRAQ IS OCCUPIED BY TURKISH FORCES AS PART OF AN 
OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH GUERRILLAS.
NEB/SB/PCF/RAE
07-Oct-98 2:25 PM EDT (1825 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.