Topic: voa Subject: U-S / TURKEY (L ONLY) by RON PEMSTEIN/STATE DEPARTMENT From: Yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis) Topic: voa DATE=4/6/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176712 TITLE=U-S / TURKEY (L ONLY) BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER SAYS AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR TURKEY IS DEPENDENT ON TURKEY CARRYING OUT COMMITMENTS TO KEEP ITS MILITARY OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ LIMITED IN SCOPE AND DURATION. V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT. TEXT: TURKEY HAS GIVEN THE UNITED STATES A RENEWED COMMITMENT THAT ITS OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ WILL NOT LAST LONG AND THAT HUMAN RIGHTS WILL BE RESPECTED AS THE TURKISH MILITARY SEARCHES FOR SUSPECTED TERRORISTS. SPEAKING ALONGSIDE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL BOUTROS BOUTROS-GHALI, MR. CHRISTOPHER SAYS TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ERDAL INONU REPEATED THOSE ASSURANCES AND AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR TURKEY DEPENDS ON THEM. ///CHRISTOPHER ACT/// I PRESSED HIM FOR A RESTATEMENT OF THAT AND I TOLD HIM I THOUGHT THAT OUR SUPPORT FOR TURKEY AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE SITUATION WAS DEPENDENT UPON CARRYING OUT THAT COMMITMENT AND I THINK THERE WAS AN UNDERSTANDING ON HIS PART OF MY POINT OF VIEW ON THAT SUBJECT. ///END ACT/// THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS THE UNITED STATES RECOGNIZES THAT TURKEY FACES A SEVERE TERRORIST PROBLEM FROM THE KURDISH WORKERS PARTY, THE P-K-K. HE ADDS THE UNITED STATES EXPECTS TURKEY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMMITMENTS TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS. BOTH MR. CHRISTOPHER AND THE TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER SAY NO INTERNATIONAL SOLUTION FOR THE LONG TERM IN NORTHERN IRAQ WAS DISCUSSED. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SUGGESTS TURKEY SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM. BOTH SIDES RECOGNIZE THERE IS A SECURITY VACUUM IN NORTHERN IRAQ THAT ALLOWS ANTI-TURKISH KURDS TO BASE THEMSELVES THERE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE UNITED STATES WANTS TO MAINTAIN THE TURKISH-BASED RELIEF OPERATION FOR IRAQI KURDS KNOWN AS PROVIDE COMFORT. AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE REPORTS OF HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES CARRIED OUT BY TURKISH FORCES IN IRAQ, AS WELL AS THE LENGTH OF THE OPERATION. THEY ARE ALSO WORRIED TURKEY IS DAMAGING ITS STANDING IN WESTERN EUROPEAN INSTITUTIONS BY CONDUCTING A PROTRACTED CROSS-BORDER ACTION. DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE STROBE TALBOTT ARRIVES IN ANKARA NEXT WEEK AND, THE FOLLOWING WEEK, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER MEETS WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON AT THE WHITE HOUSE. (SIGNED) NEB/RP/BG 06-Apr-95 3:22 PM EDT (1922 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America