Turkish Press Review

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

From: tabe at newsdesk.aps.nl
Subject: Turkish Press Review
Reply-To: kurdeng at aps.nl


                    TURKISH PRESS REVIEW
                       JUNE 12, 1995


TURKEY REPORTS BIG SUCCESS AGAINST SEPARATISTS

Security forces killed 35 Kurdish separatists  yesterday  in
clashes  throughout  southeastern  Turkey, the Anatolia news
agency reported, quoting local officials in  the  provincial
centre  of Diyarbakir.  Five soldiers reportedly died in the
fighting.   The  agency  also  said  26  other  rebels  were
captured in the area, including two militants sought for the
bombing of a bus stop in Batman last  week  that  killed  11
people and wounded 18.  The latest figures for losses by the
PKK terrorist organization are 141 killed and  167  captured
since  the  start  of  the  month,  Interior  Minister Nahit
Mentese told the Anatolia news  agency.   Mentese  said  the
successes  of  the  security  forces over the past two years
have helped to disperse the atmosphere  of  gloom  over  the
country.   The  PKK  has  been  fighting  for an independent
Kurdish state covering parts of  Turkey,  Iraq,  Iran  Syria
since   1984.    Some   16,000   people,  including  rebels,
policemen, soldiers and civilians have died in the fighting.

TOP TURKISH COUNCIL ADVISES EXTENSION OF PROVIDE COMFORT

The Turkish National Security Council yesterday  recommended
the  extension  of  the  mandate  of  an allied strike force
stationed in Turkey to protect  Iraqi  Kurds.   A  statement
issued  after  the monthly meeting of the council chaired by
President  Suleyman  Demirel  said  the  task  force,  named
Operation  Provide  Comfort,  should continue to be based in
Turkey.   The  council  also  proposed  the  extension,  for
another four months from June 19, of a state of emergency in
10 southeastern Turkish provinces to fight against  the  PKK
terrorist  organization.  Parliament will have the final say
when it votes on both issues later this month.

Deputy Prime Minister Hikmet Cetin yesterday  also  attended
the  meeting  held at the Cankaya Palace with members of the
National Security Council (NSC).   Following  discussion  of
terrorist  actions  throughout  Turkey, measures to be taken
against attempts  for  establishing  a  "Kurdish  government
in-exile"  were  considered.   The  NSC  also  supported the
Turkish government's efforts to block moves by some European
countries  to  support  attempts  by groups to establish the
so-called parliament in exile.

The PKK terrorist organization's attempts to  penetrate  the
Mediterranean   tourist   regions,   discussed  in  previous
meetings, were again reviewed and  a  decision  to  increase
security measures in the region was unanimously accepted.

The Turkish government will also make a four-month extension
to the state of emergency rule obtaining in the southeastern
regions of the country, and a  six-month  extension  to  the
Provide Comfort mandate.  /All papers/

TURKEY WARNS IRAN ABOUT SUPPORTING PKK

Interior  Minister  Nahit  Mentese  has  warned  Iran  about
allowing  the PKK terrorist organization to set up temporary
camps along the Iran-Iraq border.  The camps have  been  set
up  to  shelter  PKK  terrorists filtering across the border
from Iraq.

In a telephone message, Iranian  officials  have  been  told
that  Turkey is not happy about the news that the camps have
been set up for the benefit of the PKK.

Acording to some reports, some camps have been set  up  just
across  the  border  from  Dogubeyazit and Baskale.  Turkish
security has been stepped up in the region  to  prevent  PKK
terrorists filtering into Turkey through the Van and Hakkari
regions.  Turkish  military  representatives  have  declared
that  Turkish  forces  are  ready to clean out the terrorist
camps.

In the meantime,  the  fight  against  the  PKK  within  the
borders  of Turkey seems to be going against the terrorists.
Reports given to the  government  claim  that  PKK  mountain
forces  have suffered some deadly blows and that the PKK has
lost much of its strength as a result.  In clashes over  the
weekend in the Tunceli, Sirnak, Hakkari, Diyarbakir, Bingol,
Bitlis and Mardin regions, 35 terrorists have been  reported
killed.  /All papers/


NO TERRORISM IN TOURIST AREAS

During a conference held over the weekend  at  the  Antalya-
Kemer "Magic World" holiday village, foreign ambassadors and
other  officials  were  assured  that  terrorism   has   not
penetrated  the  holiday  areas along the southern coasts of
Turkey.

Ambassadors  and  others  representing  27  countries   were
briefed  on security arrangements and were given a guarantee
that  measures  taken  were  sufficient  to  deal  with  any
eventuality.  After the meeting, the participants were taken
on a tour of the region.  /Sabah/

 * Origin: APS Amsterdam (aps.nl), bbs +31-20-6842147 (16:31/2.0)