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DATE=11/4/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241181
TITLE=IRAQ / KURDS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE LEADER OF ONE OF THE MAIN KURDISH GROUPS IN NORTHERN 
IRAQ HAS OPENED TALKS IN ANKARA WITH SENIOR TURKISH OFFICIALS.  
AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA THE LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN 
DEMOCRATIC PARTY (K-D-P), MASSOUD BARZANI, SAYS HE WANTS TO 
REASSURE TURKISH OFFICIALS A PEACE DEAL HE SIGNED LAST MONTH WITH
THE LEADER OF A RIVAL GROUP IS  NOT  A STEP TOWARD KURDISH 
INDEPENDENCE.
TEXT:  MR. BARZANI -- WHO ARRIVED IN ANKARA AFTER A MONTH-LONG 
TOUR OF THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPEAN CAPITALS -- MET WEDNESDAY 
WITH TURKISH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT.
TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY MR. BARZANI EXPLAINED THE CONTENTS OF A 
PEACE AGREEMENT HE SIGNED LAST MONTH IN WASHINGTON WITH HIS 
RIVAL, JALAL TALABANI OF THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN 
(P-U-K).  THE TWO KURDISH LEADERS ARE EXPECTED TO MEET IN ANKARA 
FOLLOWING MR. TALABANI'S ARRIVAL SATURDAY IN TURKEY.
TURKEY WAS ANGERED BY THE U-S/BROKERED AGREEMENT WHICH ENDS 
FOUR-YEARS OF FIGHTING BETWEEN THE K-D-P AND P-U-K, IN PART 
BECAUSE IT WAS EXCLUDED FROM ITS PREPARATION.  TURKEY IS 
ESPECIALLY UPSET BY A PROVISION OF THE AGREEMENT WHICH CALLS FOR 
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT IN NORTHERN 
IRAQ AFTER PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS THAT ARE TO BE HELD NEXT MAY.
TURKISH OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH 
GOVERNMENT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD KURDISH INDEPENDENCE.  
ANALYSTS SAY SUCCESSFUL SELF-RULE IN NORTHERN IRAQ COULD 
ENCOURAGE SIMILAR ASPIRATIONS AMONG TURKEY'S ESTIMATED 12-MILLION
KURDS. 
IN A RETALIATORY MOVE, TURKEY LAST MONTH SAID IT WOULD BE SENDING
AN AMBASSADOR TO BAGHDAD FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE IRAQ'S INVASION
OF KUWAIT IN 1990.
U-S AND KURDISH OFFICIALS HAVE SINCE SOUGHT TO REASSURE TURKEY 
THAT AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE IS  NOT  ON THEIR AGENDA.  U-S 
OFFICIALS SAY RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE K-D-P AND P-U-K IS PART 
OF A BROADER U-S STRATEGY OF CONTAINING IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM 
HUSSAIN.
NORTHERN IRAQ HAS REMAINED UNDER KURDISH CONTROL SINCE THE END OF
THE PERSIAN GULF WAR.  THE SO-CALLED KURDISH SAFE HAVEN IS 
PROTECTED BY U-S-LED ALLIED WAR PLANES BASED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY. 
(SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
04-Nov-98 10:32 AM EST (1532 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.