DATE=11/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241992
TITLE=KURDS-EUROPE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=BRUSSELS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS GIVEN ITS SUPPORT TO ITALY IN THE
HANDLING OF KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. THE ITALIAN
GOVERNMENT HAS REFUSED TURKEY'S REQUEST FOR THE EXTRADITION OF
THE KURDISH LEADER. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS, THE
EUROPEAN UNION IS NOT AS UNITED AS THE STATEMENT MIGHT INDICATE.
TEXT: AUSTRIA HOLDS THE CURRENT PRESIDENCY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
AND A STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE UNION EXPRESSES FULL
SOLIDARITY WITH ITALY AND ITS RESOLVE TO ABIDE FULLY WITH ITS
LAWS AND LEGAL OBLIGATIONS.
UNTIL SATURDAY, THE EUROPEAN UNION HAD REFUSED TO BECOME INVOLVED
IN THE ARGUMENT BETWEEN ITALY AND TURKEY ON THE FATE OF KURDISH
LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HAD REFUSED
COMMENT, CITING THE DISAGREEMENT AMONG ITS MEMBERS ABOUT THE
VALIDITY OF TURKEY'S EXTRADITION REQUEST.
AN ITALIAN COURT DISMISSED TURKEY'S REQUEST ON FRIDAY. HE HAS
BEEN ORDERED TO STAY IN ROME WHILE OTHER LEGAL MATTERS ARE
CONSIDERED.
GERMANY HAS A 1990 ARREST WARRANT FOR THE KURDISH WORKER'S PARTY
LEADER BUT PUT OFF ASKING ITALY FOR MR. OCALAN'S EXTRADITION
BECAUSE OF THE TURKISH REQUEST. A GERMAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN
SAYS THE CASE IS IN GOOD HANDS WITH ITALY.
THE GERMAN MAGAZINE "DER SPIEGEL" SAYS A NEW GERMAN ARREST
WARRANT IS BEING PREPARED AGAINST MR. OCALAN FOR A SERIES OF
ARSON CHARGES IN 1993. THE 1990 WARRANT CITES A SINGLE MURDER
CHARGE.
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MASSIMO D'ALEMA IS CONSULTING WITH
EUROPEAN LEADERS ON THE KURDISH LEADER'S FATE. HE MET WITH
AUSTRIAN FOREIGN MINISTER WOLFGANG SCHUSSEL IN CROATIA.
AFTERWARD, AUSTRIA ISSUED THE EUROPEAN UNION STATEMENT THAT
REJECTED THREATS BY TURKEY AGAINST ITALY.
TURKISH PRIME MINISTER MESUT YILMAZ ACCUSES ITALY OF MAKING PEACE
WITH TERRORISM BY REFUSING HIS COUNTRY'S EXTRADITION REQUEST.
MR. YILMAZ TALKS ABOUT ITALY EARNING TURKEY'S ETERNAL HOSTILITY.
MR. OCALAN FACES THE DEATH PENALTY IN TURKEY.
TURKEY IS NOT A MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN UNION AND HAS NOT BEEN
CONSIDERED FOR MEMBERSHIP. EUROPEAN UNION OFFICIALS CITE HUMAN
RIGHTS CONCERNS CENTERED ON TURKEY'S HANDLING OF ITS KURDISH
MINORITY.
TURKEY WANTS SUPPORT WITHIN NATO WHERE IT IS A MEMBER AND HAS
AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR MR. OCALAN TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.
PRIME MINISTER D'ALEMA IS CONSULTING WITH GERMAN CHANCELLOR
GERHARD SCHROEDER AS WELL AS WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION HERE IN
BRUSSELS AND FRENCH LEADERS IN PARIS TO SEE HOW TO PROCEED. MR.
D'ALEMA PROMISES TO WATCH MR. OCALAN AND TO MAKE SURE HE DOES NOT
CARRY OUT ANY HOSTILE ACTIVITIES AGAINST TURKEY. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/DW/GE
21-Nov-98 10:18 AM EST (1518 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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