DATE= OCTOBER 8, 1998
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07997
TITLE= EDITORIAL: SYRIAN SUPPORT FOR TERRORISTS
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
OCTOBER 8, 1998.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
IN RECENT DAYS, TURKISH OFFICIALS HAVE SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THE
HARBORING OF TERRORISTS IN SYRIA. TURKEY IS PARTICULARLY
CONCERNED ABOUT THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K. SYRIA
GRANTS A WIDE VARIETY OF TERRORIST GROUPS BASING PRIVILEGES OR
REFUGE IN AREAS OF LEBANON'S BEKAA VALLEY UNDER SYRIAN CONTROL.
THE P-K-K TRAINS THERE. IN ADDITION, THE LEADER OF THE P-K-K,
ABDULLAH OCALAN, RESIDES AT LEAST PART-TIME IN DAMASCUS, THE
CAPITAL OF SYRIA.
THE P-K-K WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE MID-1970S AS A
MARXIST-LENINIST INSURGENT GROUP. IT SEEKS TO SET UP AN
INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY. IN RECENT
YEARS, THE P-K-K HAS MOVED BEYOND RURAL-BASED INSURGENT
ACTIVITIES TO URBAN TERRORISM. IT HAS CARRIED OUT TERRORIST
ATTACKS IN TURKEY AND THROUGHOUT WESTERN EUROPE. THE P-K-K HAS
RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM IRAQ AND IRAN, AS WELL AS SYRIA.
UNDER UNITED STATES LAW, THE P-K-K HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS AN
INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST GROUP. THE U.S. HAS LONG URGED THAT
SYRIA CEASE ITS SUPPORT OF THE P-K-K. BECAUSE OF SUCH SUPPORT,
SYRIA REMAINS ON THE U.S. LIST OF STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM.
COUNTRIES ON THE TERRORISM LIST ARE SUBJECT TO U.S. ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS.
THE U.S. HAS ENCOURAGED TURKEY AND SYRIA TO RESOLVE THEIR
DIFFERENCES THROUGH DIPLOMATIC MEANS. CLEARLY, THE MOST
IMPORTANT STEP FOR SYRIA IS TO CEASE ALL SUPPORT OF THE P-K-K AND
OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT. IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS,
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR FAX US AT (202)
619-1043.
07-Oct-98 4:30 PM EDT (2030 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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