DATE=2/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244982
TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TURKEY IS CONTINUING ITS SEARCH FOR FUGITIVE KURDISH
REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS
TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS. BUT SOME SAY
HE IS LIKELY IN NEIGHBORING GREECE.
TEXT: TURKISH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL SAID (TUESDAY)
ABDULLAH OCALAN'S WHEREABOUTS REMAIN UNKNOWN. BUT HE SAID TURKEY
HAS RECEIVED ASSURANCES FROM EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS THAT THE LEADER
OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY (P-K-K) WOULD BE
DENIED PERMISSION TO ENTER THEIR TERRITORY.
MR. DEMIREL'S STATEMENT COMES A DAY AFTER THE P-K-K LEADER WAS
REPORTED TO BE FLYING AROUND EUROPE ON A SMALL PRIVATE PLANE,
SEEKING ASYLUM FIRST IN THE NETHERLANDS, THEN LATER IN
SWITZERLAND, BELGIUM, AND GREECE.
TURKISH AUTHORITIES ON MONDAY SAID ABDULLAH OCALAN WAS ON A PLANE
AT ATHENS AIRPORT AWAITING PERMISSION TO DISEMBARK. THE GREEK
GOVERNMENT REPEATEDLY DENIED THE CLAIMS. BUT SOME TURKISH
OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE HE IS ON GREEK SOIL.
THE P-K-K LEADER HAS BEEN ON THE RUN SINCE OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.
THAT IS WHEN THE SYRIAN GOVERMENT FORCED HIM TO LEAVE SYRIAN
TERRITORY AFTER TURKEY THREATENED TO TAKE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST
ITS ARAB NEIGHBOR.
AFTER A BRIEF STAY IN RUSSIA, THE KURDISH REBEL LEADER FLEW TO
ITALY WHERE HE SPENT MORE THAN TWO MONTHS HOPING TO BE GIVEN
POLITICAL ASYLUM. ITALY'S REFUSAL TO HAND HIM OVER TO TURKEY
WHERE HE IS WANTED ON TREASON CHARGES SPARKED A PROTRACTED
DIPLOMATIC DISPUTE BETWEEN THE TWO NATO MEMBER COUNTRIES.
FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS, THE P-K-K HAS BEEN WAGING AN ARMED
CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF-RULE IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH
SOUTHEAST PROVINCES. NEARLY 40-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE
CONFLICT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
02-Feb-99 8:39 AM EST (1339 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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