TURKEY/ U-S ARMS (L-ONLY) BY DAVID GOLLUST/STATE DEPARTMENT
DATE=6/1/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-179740
TITLE=TURKEY/ U-S ARMS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A U-S STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT SAYS TURKEY HAS USED
U-S-SUPPLIED MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN CAMPAIGNS AGAINST KURDISH
REBELS MARKED BY HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES. HOWEVER, AS V-O-A'S DAVID
GOLLUST REPORTS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OPPOSES CUTTING U-S
MILITARY AID TO THE ANKARA GOVERNMENT.
TEXT: THE REPORT TO THE CONGRESS SAYS IT IS HIGHLY-LIKELY THAT
U-S SUPPLIED MILITARY EQUIPMENT WAS USED IN OPERATIONS AGAINST
REBELS IN SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY IN WHICH SOME KURDISH VILLAGES WERE
FORCIBLY EVACUATED AND DESTROYED.
BUT THE STATE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENT SAYS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO
VERIFY REPORTS THAT AMERICAN WEAPONS OR EQUIPMENT WERE USED IN
TORTURE OR KILLINGS ATTRIBUTED TO TURKISH FORCES IN THE REGION.
THE REPORT WAS MANDATED BY CONGRESS FOLLOWING ALLEGATIONS OF
HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES BY TURKEY IN ITS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE
SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY -- THE P-K-K -- WHICH IS
DESCRIBED IN THE REPORT AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION AND A MAJOR
THREAT TO TURKISH SOVEREIGNTY.
THE CONGRESS WITHHELD TEN PER CENT OF THIS YEAR'S 365-MILLION
DOLLAR MILITARY AID PROGRAM FOR TURKEY PENDING THE FINDINGS OF
THE REPORT. BUT TURKEY HAS ALREADY SAID IT WILL NOT ACCEPT THE
CONDITIONAL PORTION OF THE AID PACKAGE -- AND THE REPORT MAKES NO
RECOMMENDATION ABOUT REINSTATING IT.
BRIEFING REPORTERS HERE, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN CHRISTINE
SHELLY SAID TURKEY COOPERATED WITH U-S OFFICIALS LOOKING INTO THE
MATTER, AND HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED TO IMPROVE ITS HUMAN RIGHTS
RECORD.
CALLING TURKEY AN IMPORTANT NATO ALLY IN A DIFFICULT PART OF THE
WORLD, SHE EXPRESSED HOPE CONGRESS WILL NOT FURTHER REDUCE
MILITARY AID:
/// SHELLY ACTUALITY ///
IT'S OUR VIEW THAT GIVEN THE RECENT INDICATIONS THAT THE
TURKISH GOVERNMENT IS ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS THE HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF TURKEY AS A
FRONT-LINE STATE THAT IS CLEARLY SURROUNDED BY NUMEROUS
THREATS TO ITSELF, WE HOPE THAT THE U-S CONGRESS WILL
NOT REDUCE FUNDING TO TURKEY.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE SPOKESWOMAN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HOPES THE REPORT WILL NOT
ALTER THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE U-S TURKISH RELATIONSHIP, AND SAID
THE UNITED STATES PUTS A HIGH-VALUE ON THE PRESERVATION OF
TURKEY'S DEMOCRACY, TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY, AND SECURITY.
THE REPORT DID NOT DEAL WITH TURKEY'S LARGE-SCALE MILITARY
DRIVE INTO NORTHERN IRAQ IN MARCH TO ATTACK BASES USED BY THE
P-K-K TO LAUNCH RAIDS INSIDE TURKEY.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT DOCUMENT IS COMPLIMENTARY WITH REGARD TO
TURKISH EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE CYPRUS DISPUTE, CITING THE ANKARA
GOVERNMENT'S SUPPORT FOR U-N PROPOSED CONFIDENCE-BUILDING
MEASURES ON THE DIVIDED ISLAND. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/CB/LWM
01-Jun-95 5:11 PM EDT (2111 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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