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DATE=11/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241450
TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THOUSANDS OF TURKISH TROOPS ARE KEEPING UP THEIR HUNT FOR
SEPARATIST REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY  
(P-K-K)  IN KURDISH CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ.  AMBERIN ZAMAN IN 
ANKARA REPORTS THE CROSS-BORDER OPERATION COINCIDES WITH THE 
VISIT TO TURKEY BY THE LEADERS OF THE MAIN IRAQI KURDISH 
FACTIONS.
TEXT:  TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ DESCRIBED THE 
CROSS-BORDER OPERATION INVOLVING AROUND 30-THOUSAND TROOPS AS 
LIMITED IN SCOPE.  BUT MR. YILMAZ ADDED THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE 
UNTIL THE TURK KURD REBELS WERE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED IN NORTHERN
IRAQ.
THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE P-K-K BEGAN FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT THE 
REBELS HAD SOUGHT REFUGE IN NORTHERN IRAQ AFTER BEING FORCED TO 
LEAVE SYRIA.
DAMASCUS IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ORDERED THE REBELS OUT OF SYRIA IN 
KEEPING WITH A SECURITY AGREEMENT IT SIGNED WITH ANKARA LAST 
MONTH.  UNDER THE AGREEMENT, SYRIA PLEDGED TO PREVENT THE P-K-K 
FROM OPERATING OUT OF ITS TERRITORY.  TURKEY EARLIER HAD 
THREATENED MILITARY ACTION AGAINST SYRIA IF IT DID  NOT  END ITS 
SUPPORT FOR THE P-K-K.
SOME ANALYSTS SAY, HOWEVER, THAT THE TIMING OF THE OPERATION WAS 
TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE VISITS TO ANKARA OF THE LEADERS OF THE
MAIN KURDISH FACTIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ.  THEY SAY THE MESSAGE 
FROM ANKARA IS THAT TURKEY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO GO IN AND OUT OF
NORTHERN IRAQ TO COMBAT THE P-K-K AND THAT THE IRAQI KURD LEADERS
HAVE  NO  CHOICE IN THE MATTER.
TURKEY WAS ANGERED BY A US-BROKERED PEACE AGREEMENT THE IRAQI 
KURD SIGNED IN WASHINGTON IN SEPTEMBER, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT WAS
EXCLUDED FROM ITS PREPARATION BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT CONTAINED 
PROVISIONS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A KURDISH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
TURKEY FEARS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A GOVERNMENT WOULD BE THE 
FIRST STEP TOWARDS KURDISH INDEPENDENCE.  TURKEY IS HOME TO AN 
ESTIMATED 12 MILLION ETHNIC KURDS.
MASSOUD BARZANI, THE LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY  
(K-D-P),  AND JALAL TALABANI, THE LEADER OF THE PATRIOTIC UNION 
OF KURDISTAN  (P-U-K)  HAVE BOTH SOUGHT TO ASSURE TURKISH LEADERS
THAT THEY DO  NOT SEE K INDEPENDENCE.
MR. TALABANI CONTINUED TALKS WITH TURKISH OFFICIALS TUESDAY IN 
ANKARA DURING WHICH HE PLEDGED TO HELP THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT IN 
ITS BATTLE AGAINST THE P-K-K.  
RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND MR. TALABANI'S GROUP SOURED LAST 
YEAR FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS THAT THE P-U-K WAS PROVIDING ARMS AND 
BASES FOR THE TURKISH KURD GUERRILLAS.  THE P-U-K HAS ALWAYS 
DENIED SUCH CLAIMS.  BUT UNLIKE THE K-D-P WHICH COLLABORATES WITH
THE TURKISH MILITARY IN OPERATIONS AGAINST THE P-K-K, THE P-U-K 
HAS ALWAYS ENJOYED CORDIAL RELATIONS WITH THE TURKISH KURD 
REBELS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
10-Nov-98 10:51 AM EST (1551 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.