TURKEY/GREECE (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN/ANKARA
DATE=6/1/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-179717
TITLE=TURKEY/GREECE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: TENSION HAS INCREASED BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE AFTERTHE
GREEK PARLIAMENT PASSED MARITIME LEGISLATION LATE WEDNESDAY. THE
NEW LAW ENABLES ATHENS TO EXTEND ITS TERRITORIAL WATERS FROM 10
TO 20 KILOMETERS. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA THE TURKISH
GOVERNMENT HAS SAID SUCH A MOVE COULD LEAD TO HOSTILITIES.
TEXT: JUST HOURS AFTER THE GREEK PARLIAMENT VOTED TO ADOPT THE
LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION WHICH ENABLES GREECE TO DOUBLE ITS
TERRITORIAL WATERS FROM THE CURRENT 10 KILOMETER LIMIT TO 20
KILOMETERS, THE TURKISH MILITARY BEGAN PREPARING FOR TWO WEEKS OF
EXERCISES AROUND THE AEGEAN SEA.
TURKISH OFFICIALS DESCRIBE THE MILITARY EXCERCISES AS ROUTINE AND
DENY THEY ARE IN ANY WAY LINKED WITH THE GREEK PARLIAMENT'S
DECISION. THEY ADD THAT ALL COUNTRIES CONCERNED, GREECE
INCLUDED, WERE INFORMED OF THE EXCERCISES LONG BEFORE.
GREECE HAS NOT SAID IT WILL ACTUALLY ENFORCE THE TREATY, BUT
HAS SIMPLY STATED THAT IT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DO SO WHEN IT
SEES FIT. WESTERN ANALYSTS SAY IT IS UNLIKELY THAT GREECE WOULD
ACTUALLY RISK GOING TO WAR WITH TURKEY. WITH 700-THOUSAND MEN
UNDER ARMS, TURKEY HAS THE SECOND LARGEST ARMY IN NATO AND COULD
EASILY DEFEAT GREECE, THEY SAY.AND TURKEY, WHICH IS BOGGED DOWN
IN AN 11 YEAR WAR AGAINST KURDISH SEPARATIST REBELS IN THE MAINLY
KURDISH SOUTHEAST REGION CAN ILL AFFORD TO GO TO WAR AGAINST
GREECE.
INDEED MUCH OF THE RHETORIC ON BOTH SIDES, ANALYSTS SAY, IS
LARGELY AIMED AT DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION.
EVEN SO, WESTERN DIPLOMATS REMAIN NERVOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY
OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO NATO MEMBERS, WHICH REMAIN AT
LOGGERHEADS OVER A WIDE ARRAY OF ISSUES. MOST CONTENTIOUS OF ALL
ARE THE STATUS OF THE DIVIDED ISLAND OF CYPRUS AND RIGHTS OVER
THE DISPUTED AEGEAN SEA.
THE TWO HISTORICAL ENEMIES NEARLY WENT TO WAR IN 1987 ABOUT
MINERAL AND EXPLORATION RIGHTS IN THE AEGEAN.
TURKEY SAYS THE EXTENSION OF THE 10 KILOMETER LIMIT ON
TERRITORIAL WATERS WOULD TURN THE AEGEAN INTO WHAT TURKISH
OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A GREEK LAKE AND CHOKE OFF TURKEY'S ACCESS
TO INTERNATIONAL WATERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/MH/CF
01-Jun-95 10:50 AM EDT (1450 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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