DEMIREL'S STATEMENTS ON POSSIBLE MI

[PeaceNet Middle East Team]

From: <pnmideast>
Subject: DEMIREL'S STATEMENTS ON POSSIBLE MI

/* Written 11:09 am  Sep 25, 1992 by branis at sci.ccny.cuny.edu in cdp:soc.culture.tu */
/* ---------- "DEMIREL'S STATEMENTS ON POSSIBLE MI" ---------- */
ANKARA, Turkey (UPI) -- Turkish Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel
reacted strongly Friday to speculation about a military coup, saying
``democracy is not a Sunday outfit that you keep in the closet and take
out when you want.''
	Demirel in his monthly news conference was referring to coup
speculation that has appeared in the press recently as a solution for
what is called the ``government's incapability'' to overcome violence in
the country, especially in the southeast.
	``If you believe in democracy and freedom you don't even discuss such
scenarios,'' Demirel said, adding that his government was determined to
operate within the framework of law.
	``Turkey is a free country with all its democratic institutions
functioning. Military interventions are never solutions to any problems,
'' said Demirel.
	Defending Turkish military operations in the southeast against the
outlawedKurdish Workers Party, known by its Kurdish initials PKK, the
prime minister said that it would be a grave mistake to interpret what
is happening there as fighting between the Turks and the Kurds ``just
because the members of the terrorist organization are of Kurdish origin.
''
	``The state has no problem with its own people living there, it is
only there with its security forces to stop the attacks on the people,''
Demirel said.
	The PKK is a Marxist-Leninist group that has vowed to set up an
independent state for Turkey's estimated 10 million Kurdish population.



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