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DATE=2/17/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245641
TITLE=OCALAN / GREECE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ANTHEE CARASSAVA
DATELINE=ATHENS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE GREEK GOVERNMENT IS COMING UNDER STRONG CRITICISM 
FROM POLITICAL FRIENDS AND FOES FOR WHAT THEY CALL GREEK 
COMPLICITY IN THE ARREST OF KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN.
ANTHEE CARASSAVA REPORTS FROM ATHENS.
TEXT:  MYSTERY CONTINUES TO SURROUND THE EXACT CIRCUMSTANCES OF 
ABDULLAH OCALAN'S ARREST IN KENYA.  BUT EIGHT SENIOR LAWMAKERS IN
ATHENS HAVE ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSISTING IN THE ARREST OF 
THE KURDISH LEADER -- DESPITE GUARANTEES THAT HE WOULD REMAIN IN 
SAFE HANDS AT THE GREEK EMBASSY IN NAIROBI.
MUCH OF THE CRITICISM IS TARGETED AT FOREIGN MINISTER THEODORE 
PANGALOS WHO ORCHESTRATED THE OPERATION FOR MR. OCALAN'S SAFE 
HAVEN IN KENYA.
IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE EIGHT SOCIALIST LAWMAKERS DEMAND MR. 
PANGALOS' RESIGNATION, SAYING HE BOWED TO STRONG U-S AND TURKISH 
PRESSURE, AND SO HE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE KURDISH LEADER'S 
ARREST.
THE GREEK GOVERNMENT DEFENDED THE FOREIGN MINISTER, BLAMING 
KENYAN AUTHORITIES INSTEAD.  GREECE SAYS KENYAN OFFICIALS 
CONVINCED MR. OCALAN TO LEAVE THE GREEK EMBASSY IN EXCHANGE FOR 
ASSURANCES OF A SAFE FLIGHT TO THE NETHERLANDS WHERE HE WOULD 
SEEK POLITICAL ASYLUM.
INSTEAD, MR. OCALAN ENDED UP IN TURKEY.  AND THAT, GREEK CRITICS 
SAY, IMPLIES COMPLICITY IN HIS TURKISH ARREST.
CRITICS ALSO ARE ASKING WHY GREEK INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS SENT MR. 
OCALAN TO KENYA WHEN THEY KNEW THERE IS A STRONG PRESENCE OF U-S 
AGENTS THERE WHO WERE LIKELY TO LEARN THE KURDISH LEADER WAS IN 
THE COUNTRY.
THE GREEK GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS IT SECRETLY HARBORED MR. OCALAN FOR
12 DAYS IN NAIROBI.  BUT IT HAS PROVIDED LITTLE INFORMATION TO 
ANSWER THE CRITICS' QUESTIONS. 
THE CRITICS ALSO NOTE THAT FOR YEARS, TURKEY HAS ACCUSED GREECE 
OF AIDING AND ABETTING MR. OCALAN AND HIS KURDISTAN WORKERS' 
PARTY.  BUT THEY NOTE THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS REMAINED 
VIRTUALLY SILENT IN ITS CRITICISM -- SINCE THE ARREST OF THE 
KURDISH LEADER.   CRITICS SAY THIS TURKISH SILENCE IS A CLEAR 
SIGN OF GREEK COMPLICITY IN THE ARREST OF MR. OCALAN.  (SIGNED)
NEB/AC/JWH/JO
17-Feb-99 12:19 PM EST (1719 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.