TRKNWS-L NEWS

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

From: tabe at newsdesk.aps.nl
Subject: TRKNWS-L NEWS
Reply-To: kurdeng at aps.nl

9252; Mon, 26 Jun 1995 21:03:33 -0800


Turks Remove Netherlands From "Red List"
      ANKARA, June 23 (Reuter) - Turkey said on Friday it had taken the
Netherlands off its ``red list'' of countries from which it does not buy
military equipment.

    Turkey had stopped all new military purchases from its NATO ally in April
after the Dutch government allowed a Kurdish parliament-in-exile to be set up
in The Hague.

    ``Holland has been removed from the red list to the yellow list,''
Foreign Ministry spokesman Omer Akbel said. ``You can take this as an
indication of improvement in the situation.''

    Countries on the yellow list, which include Finland, Germany, Belgium and
Luxembourg, may be considered on a case-by-case basis for participation in
military tenders and procurements, he said.

    Akbel said he also expected the imminent return to the Dutch capital of
the Turkish ambassador, who had been recalled in April in the Kurdish
parliament row.

    The announcements follow a series of technical meetings between Turkish
and Dutch delegations to increase cooperation in combating the Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK) guerrilla group which is fighting for a Kurdish state in
southeast Turkey.

    Turkey says the parliament-in-exile, which includes representatives from
the PKK, is a propaganda tool for the guerrillas. More than 16,000 people
have been killed in the PKK's 11-year insurgency.

    Turkey bought military goods worth about $22 million, mainly parts for
tanks, from the Netherlands between 1987 and 1994.

    The red list now comprises of Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, Norway, South
Africa and Denmark.


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