DATE=8/10/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TURKEY / IRAN (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-252655
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Turkey and Iran appear to have ironed out
their differences over an alleged border
incursion by Turkish forces. Amberin Zaman in
Ankara reports Turkish and Iranian security
officials discussed the matter in talks Tuesday
in the Turkish capital.
TEXT: Speaking to reporters after day-long talks
with Turkish officials, Iran's deputy interior
minister said -- in his words -- that differences
between his country and Turkey over the dispute
are gradually disappearing.
Iran last month accused Turkey of bombing Iranian
territory and killing five Iranians. Turkey
denied the claims, saying its forces struck rebel
Kurd bases in Iraq, not in Iran.
Tensions between the two regional rivals
escalated when Iran arrested two Turkish soldiers
who crossed into Iranian territory in pursuit of
rebels of the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's party
or P-K-K. The soldiers were released Monday
after weeks of wrangling between Turkish and
Iranian officials who have been demanding an
official apology from the Turkish government
along with compensation for the alleged air
strike.
Iran accused Turkey at the time of acting under
orders from the United States and Israel. Turkey
says Iran is providing arms and shelter to P-K-K
rebels.
Turkey says many of the P-K-K rebels shifted
their bases to Iran after Syria expelled P-K-K
forces last October along with their now-
imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan. Turkey had
threatened Syria with military action if it
failed to do so.
Iran says it does not allow the P-K-K to
operate out of its territory. But Turkish
officials are expected to present their Iranian
counterparts during a second round of talks here
with what Turkish officials describe as
irrefutable evidence of the P-K-K presence in
Iran. (Signed)
NEB/AZ/JWH/WTW
10-Aug-1999 13:25 PM LOC (10-Aug-1999 1725 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
