DATE=11/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241948
TITLE=TURKEY / TERRORISM - CQ
BYLINE=CHALLISS MCDONOUGH
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ITALIAN AUTHORITIES LAST WEEK ARRESTED TURKEY'S MOST
WANTED FUGITIVE, THE LEADER OF KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, THE
P-K-K. THE P-K-K SEEKS KURDISH SELF-RULE, AND WAGED A GUERRILLA
WAR AGAINST TURKEY FROM NEIGHBORING SYRIA UNTIL DAMASCUS CUT TIES
WITH THE GROUP LAST MONTH. P-K-K LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN
(OH'-JAH-LAHN) WAS CAUGHT IN ROME NOVEMBER 13TH, AFTER ARRIVING
FROM MOSCOW CARRYING A FALSE PASSPORT. V-O-A'S CHALLISS
MCDONOUGH REPORTS THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES
BRIEFED REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON (THURSDAY) ABOUT TURKEY'S EFFORTS
TO EXTRADITE MR. OCALAN.
TEXT: THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, BAKI ILKIN
(BAH-KEE' EEL'-KIHN), SAYS THE THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, THE
P-K-K, HAS KILLED MORE THAN 30-THOUSAND PEOPLE SINCE ABDULLAH
OCALAN FORMED IT IN 1978.
MR. ILKIN URGED ITALY TO EXTRADITE THE REBEL LEADER TO TURKEY TO
STAND TRIAL ON CHARGES OF TERRORISM AND TREASON.
// ILKIN ACT //
WE ALL KNOW THAT ITALY ITSELF HAS SUFFERED TREMENDOUSLY
FROM THE SCOURGE OF TERRORISM IN THE RECENT PAST. IT
MUST, THEREFORE, SURELY UNDERSTAND HOW TURKS EVERYWHERE
FEEL ABOUT THIS BRUTAL TERRORIST. I WOULD LIKE TO
REMAIN OPTIMISTIC THAT ITALY WILL EXERCISE SOUND AND
WISE JUDGMENT IN RENDERING THE RIGHT DECISION IN THIS
MATTER.
// END ACT //
MR. OCALAN HAS APPLIED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM IN ITALY BECAUSE HE
COULD FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IF HE IS CONVICTED IN ANKARA.
ITALIAN LAW FORBIDS EXTRADITION TO COUNTRIES THAT USE CAPITAL
PUNISHMENT. BUT MR. ILKIN SAYS TURKEY HAS NOT EXECUTED ANY
PRISONERS SINCE 1984. HE SAYS THE REBEL LEADER WOULD RECEIVE A
FAIR TRIAL IN AN INDEPENDENT TURKISH COURT.
THE AMBASSADOR SAYS REFUSAL TO EXTRADITE MR. OCALAN COULD
SERIOUSLY STRAIN TURKISH RELATIONS WITH ITALY.
// ILKIN ACT //
COMBATTING TERRORISM IS ON TOP OF TURKEY'S AGENDA, AND
WE HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH. WE WOULD TEST OUR FRIENDS WITH
THEIR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE P-K-K, AND THAT WOULD BE THE
DETERMINING FACTOR OF OUR FRIENDSHIP WITH COUNTRY A, B,
X, Y, BE IT ITALY OR ANY OTHERS. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF
UTMOST IMPORTANCE, IT IS A CRUCIAL ISSUE.
// END ACT //
// OPT // MR. ILKIN SAYS MR. OCALAN'S ARREST HAS THROWN THE
P-K-K LEADERSHIP INTO A STATE OF CONFUSION BECAUSE THERE IS NOT
ANYONE IN A POSITION TO REPLACE HIM IMMEDIATELY.
// OPT ILKIN ACT //
HE DOES NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO REACH A STAGE OR POSITION
WITHIN THE P-K-K THAT WOULD CHALLENGE HIS AUTHORITY. SO
HE HAS MANAGED TO ELIMINATE -- NOT POLITICALLY,
PHYSICALLY -- MOST OF HIS FELLOW -- HOW SHALL I SAY? --
BIRDS OF THE SAME FEATHER ON HIS WAY IN THE LAST
15-YEARS.
// END ACT & END OPT //
MR. ILKIN INDICATED SWEDEN MAY WANT TO EXTRADITE THE REBEL LEADER
AS WELL.
ROME HAS ASKED THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR SUPPORT IN RESISTING
TURKISH EXTRADITION EFFORTS, BUT THE UNION HAS TRIED TO STAY OUT
OF THE DISPUTE. ITS MEMBERS DO NOT AGREE ON WHETHER THE P-K-K
IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. THE AMBASSADOR SAYS TURKISH AND
ITALIAN OFFICIALS ARE HOLDING HIGH-LEVEL TALKS ABOUT THE ISSUE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/CEM/RAE
20-Nov-98 9:21 AM EST (1421 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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