DATE=2/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245553
TITLE=TURKEY / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ MET MONDAY IN
ANKARA WITH TURKISH LEADERS. AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS
BOTH MR. AZIZ AND TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT DESCRIBED
THEIR TALKS AS HIGHLY POSITIVE.
TEXT: SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING NEARLY THREE-HOURS
OF TALKS, MR. ECEVIT SAID HE AND THE IRAQI DEPUTY PREMIER HAD
FOCUSED ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS.
THESE INCLUDED THE NEED TO PRESERVE IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
AND FOR IRAQ TO COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR IT TO
DESTROY ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE TURKISH LEADER SAID
THE EASING OF U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON IRAQ SHOULD RUN PARALLEL
TO THAT PROCESS.
MR. ECEVIT CONFIRMED THE IRAQI OFFICIAL ASKED TURKEY TO PREVENT
U-S AND BRITISH WAR PLANES STATIONED AT A NATO BASE IN SOUTHERN
TURKEY FROM CARRYING OUT ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQI TARGETS. TURKISH
OFFICIALS SAY THE REQUEST WAS REJECTED.
MR. ECEVIT SAID HE ASSURED MR. AZIZ THE U-S AND BRITISH PLANES
ARE NOT BEING PERMITTED TO CARRY OUT OFFENSIVE ACTION AGAINST
IRAQ. HE SAID THE ALLIED FORCES ARE RESPONDING TO STEPPED UP
IRAQI ATTACKS ON ALLIED AIR CRAFT PATROLLING THE NO-FLY ZONE OVER
NORTHERN IRAQ.
/// OPT /// A U-S EMBASSY SPOKESMAN IN ANKARA SAID ON MONDAY,
U-S FIGHTER JETS TAKING OFF FROM THE INCIRLIK AIR BASE IN ADANA,
TURKEY, POUNDED IRAQI TARGETS AFTER RADAR LOCKED ONTO TWO U-S
JETS. /// END OPT ///
PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SHRUGGED OFF CRITICISM THAT MR AZIZ'S VISIT
WOULD DISRUPT TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES, SAYING
IT WAS "EXAGGERATED." MR. ECEVIT WAS RESPONDING TO U-S CONCERNS
ABOUT THE TIMING OF MR AZIZ' VISIT. IT COINCIDES WITH STEPPED UP
SUPPORT BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT FOR IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS SEEKING
TO OVERTHROW IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
IN SEPARATE COMMENTS, MR. AZIZ SAID RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND
IRAQ WOULD IMPROVE IF -- AS HE PUT IT -- THERE WAS NO FOREIGN
INTERFERENCE. HE SAID TURKEY AND IRAQ'S LEGITIMATE CONCERNS WERE
RAISED DURING TALKS WITH THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER.
TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAID BOTH COUNTRIES SHARE FEARS
THAT CONTINUED KURDISH SELF-RULE IN NORTHERN IRAQ MIGHT RESULT IN
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE. MR. ECEVIT
SAID HE HAD ADVISED THE IRAQI OFFICIAL TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES
WITH THE IRAQI KURDS THROUGH DIALOGUE AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN
RIGHTS.
MR. ECEVIT ALSO SAID HE HAD GIVEN MR AZIZ A DOCUMENT PREPARED BY
THE TURKISH MILITARY WHICH HE SAID CONTAINS EVIDENCE IRAQ IS
PROVIDING SHELTER FOR REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED SEPARATIST KURDISTAN
WORKERS' PARTY. MR. ECEVIT SAID MR. AZIZ DENIED THE CHARGES AND
INVITED TURKISH OFFICERS TO COME TO IRAQ TO CHECK THE FACTS FOR
THEMSELVES. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE
15-Feb-99 11:08 AM EST (1608 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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