Press Summary

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

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)