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DATE=10/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240131
TITLE=TURKEY / SYRIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER ISMET SEZGIN SAYS HE BELIEVES 
KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN HAD LEFT SYRIA AND THAT HIS 
CAMPS IN THAT COUNTRY HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN.  AMBERIN ZAMAN IN 
ANKARA REPORTS THE MOVES HAVE HELPED COOL ESCALATING TENSIONS 
BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIA OVER THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS 
PARTY, THE P-K-K
TEXT:  SPEAKING TO REPORTERS TUESDAY, TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER 
ISMET SEZGIN SAID THAT SYRIA HAD MOST PROBABLY PUT AN END TO THE 
ACTIVITIES OF THE P-K-K WITHIN ITS TERRITORY AS WELL AS IN THE 
BEKAA VALLEY IN LEBANON WHICH IS UNDER ITS CONTROL.
MR. SEZGIN ADDED THAT THE P-K-K LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN HAD LIKELY
LEFT SYRIA, BUT HE DECLINED TO SPECIFY HIS WHEREABOUTS. ARAB 
DIPLOMATS IN ANKARA SPECULATED TUESDAY THAT MOST LIKELY MR. 
OCALAN WAS IN EITHER NORTHERN IRAQ OR LIBYA, WHICH IS SYMPATHETIC
TO THE TURKISH KURD REBEL MOVEMENT.
MR. SEZGIN SAID HE HAD OBTAINED THE INFORMATION CONCERNING 
SYRIA'S MOVES FROM THE EGYPTIAN AND IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS WHO
HAVE BEEN MEDIATING BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIA DURING THE PAST 
WEEK.
TENSIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND SYRIA ESCALATED AFTER ANKARA 
THREATENED TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST ITS ARAB NEIGHBOUR 
OVER ITS CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE P-K-K.
TURKISH OBSERVERS SAY THEY BELIEVE SYRIA WAS BACKING THE REBELS 
TO PRESS ITS HISTORIC CLAIMS TO A TURKISH BORDER PROVINCE, HATAY,
AND TO GET TURKEY TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT TO SHARE THE WATERS OF THE
EUPHRATES RIVER WHICH BEGINS IN TURKEY.  SYRIAN FARMING HEAVILY 
DEPENDS ON THE RIVER.
SYRIA DENIES THE CLAIMS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
13-Oct-98 2:07 PM EDT (1807 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America