Press Summary
kurdeng at aps.nl
kurdeng at aps.nl
Fri Jun 23 05:44:47 BST 1995
From: tabe at newsdesk.aps.nl
Subject: Press Summary
Reply-To: kurdeng at aps.nl
-- turkish-dutch relations gradually on the mend
having overcome the effects of harsh words exchanged over the
kurdish parliament-in-exile' issue and the coolness that
appeared ready to pervade their relations for some time to come,
turkey and the netherlands have been engaging in some quiet
"fence-mending diplomacy" recently which officials on both sides
say is bearing results.
but it is clear that neither side is willing to go public with
statements that would represent "backtracking" from the public
positions they have taken on this issue.
ankara still considers it unacceptable that holland should have
allowed the establishment of the parliament-in-exile in the
hague on april 12, and still retains its hope that the "depth of
its feeling on this score has been understood by officials in
the dutch capital."
in other words, turkish officials have not changed their view
that this was a great concession to the kurdistan workers' party
(pkk), which is banned in turkey where it is fighting a bloody
separatist war, and say holland, which is such a close ally,
should never have allowed "such a concession to terrorism."
holland, for its part, still rejects this argument and
maintains its position that its constitution and laws do not
permit it to ban peaceful meetings such as the april 12
gathering of kurdish groups, even if allegiance may have been
expressed to the pkk by some of those attending.
realizing the slippery diplomatic slope that maintaining such a
line represented, turkish foreign minister erdal inonu and his
dutch counterpart hans van mierlo used the occasion of western
european union meeting in lisbon in may to lay the groundwork
for improving the damaged relations.
while the talks between the two countries are said to be
continuing, foreign ministry sources told the turkish daily news
that "progress in the right direction is being marked" and that
the prospects for a normalization of ties are discernible.
"we believe that holland will come around to a greater
understanding of how important this whole pkk issue is for us,
and will be better informed about the activities of this
organization as a result of greater dialogue and cooperation
with us on this matter," one senior source told the tdn.
-- turkey, palestine discuss economic aid, peace process
visiting palestinian president yasser arafat and turkish
officials discussed on monday ways to expedite an economic aid
package ankara had earlier pledged to extend to the fledgling
palestinian state to support several development projects in the
newly autonomous areas, sources said. arafat also briefed
president suleyman demirel and other turkish officials he met in
ankara developments in the middle east peace process and in
particular the palestinian-israeli talks.
ankara last year pledged 52 million dollars in aid to the
autonomous areas of gaza and jericho in the west bank.
but only 2 million dollars of this has so far been made
available to palestine. at official talks following arafat's
arrival in ankara on monday morning, the palestinian delegation
also asked the ankara government to encourage the turkish
private sector to do business in palestine.
"the palestinian people have not forgotten and will not forget
turkey's assistance. they now need turkey's help more than
ever," arafat said in a meeting with demirel.
in response, demirel, who is hosting arafat in could to
contribute to the economic and social development of the
palestinian people. "in addition to our government's aid (to
palestine), we also encourage the turkish private sector to take
up more initiatives in activities in gaza and eriha (jericho),"
demirel said at a dinner he gave in arafat's honor.
demirel, recalling that turkey has traditionally followed
balanced policies which take into account the legitimate rights
and interests of all related sides regarding the palestinian
problem and arab-israeli disputes, said only peace in the middle
east could pave the way for welfare and stability in the region.
arafat and prime minister tansu ciller spoke on the phone and
briefly discussed the peace process before ciller flew to paris
on monday afternoon to attend a western european union meeting.
arafat will meet turkish party and union leaders and receive an
honorary doctorate at ankara's gazi university today before
leaving turkey later in the day.
ciller became the first turkish leader to visit the palestinian
self-rule areas when she met arafat in gaza in november last
year.
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* Origin: APS Amsterdam (aps.nl), bbs +31-20-6842147 (16:31/2.0)
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