U-S / TURKEY (S-O) BY RON PEMSTEIN/STATE DEPT.
DATE=7/7/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-181621
TITLE=U-S / TURKEY (S-O)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPT.
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS GIVING TURKEY FULL SUPPORT IN ITS
LATEST OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH GUERRILLAS IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
V-O-A'S RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THAT
SUPPORT INCLUDES TURKEY'S USE OF AMERICAN WEAPONS.
TEXT: TURKISH OFFICIALS HAVE TOLD THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO
ANKARA THAT THE LATEST OFFENSIVE IS AIMED AGAINST GUERRILLAS OF
THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, THE P-K-K, IN RESPONSE TO THE
GROUP'S TWO RECENT CROSS BORDER ATTACKS INSIDE TURKEY.
THE UNITED STATES SEES THE P-K-K AS A TERRORIST GROUP AND STATE
DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS SAYS TURKEY'S USE OF AMERICAN
F-16 JETS AND OTHER U-S EQUIPMENT IS JUSTIFIED.
/// BURNS ACT ///
THE USE OF U-S SUPPLIED WEAPONS BY ALLIES FOR LEGITIMATE
SELF DEFENSE IS ACCEPTABLE UNDER UNITED STATES LAW. WE
WOULD CHARACTERIZE THIS SITUATION AS LEGITIMATE SELF
DEFENSE.
/// END ACT ///
THE UNITED STATES ALSO SUPPORTED TURKEY'S LARGER OPERATION IN
NORTHERN IRAQ THAT LASTED FROM MARCH 20TH TO MAY 2ND AND WAS ALSO
AIMED AT P-K-K BASES. THAT OPERATION WAS HEAVILY CRITICIZED IN
WESTERN EUROPE. TURKEY HAS AGAIN ASSURED THE UNITED STATES THAT
ITS SOLDIERS ARE MAKING EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE CIVILIAN
CASUALTIES.(SIGNED)
NEB / RP / BD
07-Jul-95 5:50 PM EDT (2150 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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