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DATE=11/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242215
TITLE=GERMANY / ITALY / KURDS (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=BRUSSELS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  GERMANY HAS REFUSED ITALY'S REQUEST TO EXTRADITE THE 
TURKISH REBEL KURDISH LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN.   V-O-A WEST EUROPE
CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS ON THE MEETING BETWEEN THE 
LEADERS OF ITALY AND GERMANY.
TEXT:  ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MASSIMO D'ALEMA WENT TO BONN TO TRY
TO CONVINCE GERMANY TO ASK FOR THE EXTRADITION OF KURDISH LEADER 
ABDULLAH OCALAN . ITALY ARRESTED HIM NOVEMBER 12TH IN RESPONSE TO
A GERMAN ARREST WARRANT.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER ASKED THE PRIME MINISTER FOR 
HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT GERMANY WILL  NOT  ENFORCE ITS TWO ARREST 
WARRANTS.
        ///  SCHROEDER ACT - IN GERMAN - FADE UNDER  ///
HE SAYS GERMANY IS THE COUNTRY IN EUROPE THAT HAS THE MOST 
KURDISH -- OFTEN REFUGEES -- AND TURKISH CITIZENS WHO LIVE AND 
WORK HERE, AND HE SAYS HE IS INTERESTED IN PROTECTING THE PEACE 
IN GERMANY.
THERE ARE TWO-AND-ONE-HALF-MILLION TURKS AND KURDS IN GERMANY, 
AND THOUSANDS OF MR. OCALAN'S SUPPORTERS GATHERED ACROSS THE 
RHINE RIVER FROM THE CHANCELLERY WHERE THE TWO LEADERS MET.  THE 
KURDS WANT SOME COUNTRY IN EUROPE TO GRANT THE KURDISH WORKERS' 
PARTY LEADER POLITICAL ASYLUM.
ITALY REFUSED TURKEY'S REQUEST FOR THE EXTRADITION OF MR. OCALAN 
ON THE GROUNDS THAT TURKEY PERMITS THE DEATH PENALTY.  GERMANY 
DOES NOT.  THE ITALIANS WANTED GERMANY TO TAKE THE KURDISH LEADER
OFF THEIR HANDS. 
WHILE GERMAN PROSECUTORS HAVE ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST MR. OCALAN,
IT IS UP TO THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT TO ENFORCE THEM.  
THE GOVERNMENT INITIALLY SAID MR. OCALAN IS ITALY'S PROBLEM TO 
SOLVE.  RECENTLY, GERMAN OFFICIALS BLAMED ITALIAN POLITICIANS FOR
ENCOURAGING MR. OCALAN TO GO TO ROME.  HE APPARENTLY WAS INVITED 
BY ELEMENTS IN ITALY'S REFORMED COMMUNIST PARTY.  MR. OCALAN 
REMAINS FREE IN ITALY UNDER POLICE SURVEILLANCE.
WHILE TURKEY AND THE UNITED STATES WOULD LIKE SOME EUROPEAN 
COUNTRY TO PUT MR. OCALAN ON TRIAL, CHANCELLOR SCHROEDER HAS MADE
CLEAR TO ITALY THAT GERMANY IS  NOT  THAT COUNTRY.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/RDP/JWH/GE
27-Nov-98 11:07 AM EST (1607 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.