TURKISH RADIO HOUR NEWS

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

From: tabe at newsdesk.aps.nl
Subject: TURKISH RADIO HOUR NEWS
Reply-To: kurdeng at aps.nl


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Today's news was edited by Ahmet Toprak
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ANKARA PROTESTS WESTERN THRACE ATTACK 
    05/05/95, TPR--Ankara has protested in the strongest 
possible terms the attack against State Minister and 
Government Spokesman Yildirim Aktuna during his visit to 
Western Thrace, Greece. 
    Top government officials have condemned the attack, 
and President Demirel has described the Greek violence 
as "thought provoking" in connection with Turkey-
Greek relations which have now plunged to a serious low. 
    State Minister Aktuna said in a press meeting yesterday 
that the violent demonstration against the visiting 
Turkish delegation led by Aktuna was carried with Kurdish 
Workers Party cooperation. He said too that he would be 
taking legal action against Greek newspapers that had 
vilified him and Turkish efforts to restore relations with 
Greece. 
    Officials and others confirm that relations with Greece 
are moving into crisis.  Reports say that the attack, 
during which Aktuna was pushed and shoved to the ground, 
came as a result of the deep and damaging complexes the 
Greeks have about Turkey.  Describing the attack 
as "planned provocation" officials said yesterday 
that Greece was continuing with a strategy designed to 
incite bad feeling between Greece and Turkey and 
damage what remaining ties there were. 
    Aktuna wound up his press conference by saying that what 
the demonstrators had done was "against the principles of 
human rights." 
    Turkey protested to Greece at midnight on Wednesday over 
the attacks on Government Spokesman Yildirim Aktuna during 
his visit to Salonika.  Greek Ambassador Dimitrios 
Nezeritis, who has just been appointed to Ankara, was 
summoned to the Turkish Foreign Ministry in the early 
hours of Thursday morning.  Foreign Ministry Deputy 
Undersecretary Tugay Ulucevik said he had protested against 
the attack on Aktuna. A similar protest was made in 
Greece, by the Turkish Ambassador in Athens.  "We want the 
aggressors to be found as quickly as possible.  An 
investigation should be conducted and the people 
responsible should be brought before the courts" 
Ulucevik said.  Following the note of protest, a Turkish 
Cabinet statement was made on the issue, condemning the 
Greek attitude.  "This is an ugliness not even seen 
between countries at war" said State Minister Abdulbaki 
Atac, who read the statement instead of Aktuna, adding: 
"It is impossible to understand how the Greek 
authorities could remain passive during the incident.  This 
is in no way compatible with hospitality" Atac said.  Deputy 
Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin told reporters he blamed the 
local police for negligence during the attack by a crowd of 
about 400 Greeks, Armenians, Kurds and Cypriots. 
    Aktuna suffered injuries to his legs and arms when the 
angry crowd hurled rocks, lighters, eggs, lemons and other 
items at him and his entourage in Salonika. 


AKTUNA IN WESTERN THRACE 
    05/04/95, Milliyet--The visit to Western Thrace of 
Turkish State Minister and Government Spokesman Yildirim 
Aktuna provoked violent reactions from the Greek press 
and government officials yesterday.  Aktuna, who earlier 
announced his wish to have a "peaceful" trip to meet with 
ethnic Turks, was "greeted" by an ultra-nationalist Greek 
bomb threat on Tuesday evening during a Turkish Youth 
Association Dinner and open insults by the Greek press 
the following morning. Following visits to Iskece and 
Gumulcine, Aktuna went to Salonika yesterday evening to 
visit the house of Ataturk. Aktuna and his accompanying 
delegation were attacked by a 500-person group of 
fanatics including KWP terrorist organization members 
when they arrived at the Turkish Consulate General. 

HOLBROOKE: "TURKEY MUST BE SUPPORTED" 
    05/04/95, Sabah-Hurriyet--In an exclusive interview 
with the Washington Times, Richard Holbrooke, US 
Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian 
Affairs, has criticized the proposed cuts in the foreign 
aid budget.  On Cyprus, he recalled the administration's 
policy to lobby "for Cyprus to be invited to EU 
membership".  Since the island could only join the EU as a 
federation of the separated Turkish and Greek sides, 
membership would serve as a lever toward reuniting the 
Mediterranean island nation, the Washington Times noted.  
Commenting on Turkey's own application for EU customs union, 
Holbrooke said the US did not support moves "to drive 
the Turks east to the fundamentalists which would be a 
catastrophe". 
    The US, unable to find the support it expected from 
its allies for an international embargo against Iran, 
has accelerated backing for Turkey, describing Turkey as 
the US government "New European Front".  Holbrooke 
stressed that the US supported Turkey's military 
operation in northern Iraq and said: "Turkey is 
replacing Germany as the cutting-edge of Europe".  
Meanwhile, "support in the struggle against terrorism" 
call from Prime Minister Tansu Ciller to her Western allies 
received a positive answer from Washington.  The US 
administration stated that all NATO allies should support 
Turkey in its just struggle. Washington also noted 
that Turkey did not suggest any changes to the Turkish-
Iraqi border.  US State Department Spokesman Nicholas 
Burns said: "We very much agree with the Turkish government 
that it is in the interests of the two main Kurdish 
factions in northern Iraq to provide security there so 
that the problem of KWP terrorism, which emanates from 
inside Turkey, can be eliminated.  And that concern about 
KWP terrorism is something that we share very deeply 
with the Turkish government". 

 NATO COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN ANKARA 
    05/03/95, Cumhuriyet--The Commander-in-Chief of 
NATO's European Allied Forces, Gen.George A.Joulwan 
arrived in Ankara yesterday as the official guest of 
Turkish Chief of General Staff Gen.  Ismail Hakki 
Karadayi.  Gen.Joulwan will meet with Gen.Karadayi, 
Lieutenant Gen.Tamer Akbas and Major Gen.Cetin Dogan 
today. Joulwan will leave Ankara this afternoon. 

 
MAY DAY PASSES WITHOUT INCIDENT 
    05/02/95, Cumhuriyet--May Day began quietly, with 
labor union leaders and politicians laying wreaths at 
the Republic monument in Taksim Square, Istanbul.  Labor 
confederation leaders were led by Turk-Is Chairman 
Bayram Meral, the Confederation of Progressive Labor 
Unions Chairman Ridvan Budak and the Public Sector Workers 
Unions Confederation spokesman Yildirim Kaya. Minister of 
Culture Ercan Karakas and members of the Republican 
People's Party also visited the Taksim Republic 
monument. 


TURKEY'S PRIME MINISTER CILLER WELCOMES TROOPS RETURNING 
HOME 
    by Sevda Kupoglu Aleckson 
    Special to the Turkish Radio Hour 

    05/06/95, TRH--Following an almost two-month long 
military operation against the rebels of the outlawed 
Kurdistan Workers Party (KWP), the Turkish Prime Minister 
Tansu Ciller led the special ceremonies held at Silopi to 
welcome back the remaining Turkish military units 
withdrawing from northern Iraq region.  The returning 
soldiers were given an enthusiastic welcome.  The Prime 
Minister and the top military representatives confirmed the 
success of the military operation dubbed "Operation 
Steel" and emphasized the impossibility of destroying the 
unity of the Turkish nation.  Turkey is working to establish 
a long-term solution to help stabilize the area.  Talks are 
continung with the regional Kurdish leaders hoping that an 
agreement can be reached for united action against the KWP. 
    During the 43-day long military operation, a 14,000 
square kilometer area in northern Iraq was thoroughly 
searched, 555 rebels were killed, 61 Turkish forces were 
killed, and 185 soldiers were wounded.  During the 
operation, no civilians were hurt.  The cost of the 
operation was in the amount approx 56,000,000 US dollars. 
    Meanwhile, clashes between the military units and the 
KWP continued in Siirt region of Turkey which resulted in 
five KWP terrorists being killed Similarly, in a region of 
Hakkari, 11 terrorists were recently killed.  Twenty-six 
KWP members have been arrested in Bitlis, Mus, Siirt and 
Tunceli towns of Turkey. 
     In response to recent statements suggesting changes to 
the border area between Turkey and Iraq to prevent KWP 
infiltration, the Turkish Foreign Ministry has indicated 
that no political decisions have been made to change the 
present Turkey-Iraqi border.  
    To help Turkey fight the terrorism, Azerbaijan has taken 
measures to prevent KWP infiltration into Turkey 
through Armenia.  Specifically, Azerbaijan has increased 
the number of troops and thightened the controls around the 
Armenian and Iranian borders.  KWP terrorists who are 
arrested when they buy weapons are routinely handed over to 
Turkish officials.  
    During talks in Ankara with the Turkish Foreign 
Ministry, a northern Iraqi delegation assured Turkey that 
they will make every effort not to allow terrorists to 
attack Turkey through their territory.  The head of the 
delegation of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) stated 
that they are in control of the region, are responsible for 
the security of the region, and respect international law.  
Cooperation of the local KDP leaders is critical in 
establishing a secure region along the Turkish-Iraqi border.  
                            
TURKEY REACTS STRONGLY TO EUROPEANS 
    05/03/95, TPR--Turkish parliamentarians have reacted 
strongly to the attitude of visiting European 
parliamentarians representing the European Council (EC).  
In a statement signed by all the major parties, Turkish 
parliamentarians have condemned the attitude of the 
Europeans as "ill-intentioned and biased." 
    Turkish parliamentarians have declared that the 
visiting EC delegation has gone beyond the accepted 
limits of relations between countries and the interest 
countries can show in the internal affairs of 
another country.  In the statement published yesterday, 
Turkish parliamentarians said they expected the EC 
delegation to show respect for Turkish political 
sovereignty and national unity. 

KWP OPENING OFFICE IN HELSINKI 
    05/01/95, TPR--In moves to create division between 
Turkey and European countries, the KWP terrorist 
organization is planning to open yet another representative 
office in Helsinki.  The move is seen as part of the 
"Kurdish parliament-in-exile" scheme begun in Holland to 
bring Turkey into disrepute in European countries. 
    The KWP is seeking to establish itself in countries 
with a more tolerant view of fringe or even extremist 
groups.  The KWP will slowly build up credibility at the 
cost of Turkey. No real reaction to the KWP Helsinki 
project has been reported. 

TGNA CONDEMNS COUNCIL OF EUROPE 
    05/03/95, Sabah--All political parties at the Turkish 
Grand National Assembly (TGNA), condemned the Council 
of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (CEPA) with a text 
jointly prepared yesterday.  The text says: "The 
Turkish Group in the Council of Europe's Parliamentary 
Assembly has decided not to cooperate with the CEPA and 
not to participate in the assembly meetings and 
council's commission studies until the European 
Council Ministers' Committee changes its attitude". 

COUNCIL OF EUROPE REGRETS TURK BOYCOTT 
    05/02/95, Cumhuriyet--The Council of Europe's rapporteur 
for Turkey has expressed his regret over the decision 
by Turkish parliamentarians to boycott the Council's 
Parliamentary Assembly, the Anatolia news agency 
reported yesterday.  "I am very surprised at the decision.  
It would have been better to stay and keep the channels 
of dialogue open.  The Council of Europe does not want to 
lose Turkey", Rapporteur Andreas Barsony said. 

    *COST OF MILITARY OPERATION--The 43-day Turkish military 
operation in northern Iraq has so far cost the government 
2.8 trillion TL (66 million U.S. dollars), and the lives of 
61 officers and men along with three missing.