Turkey, Britain eye to eye on CFE,

[kurdeng at aps.nl]

Subject: Turkey, Britain eye to eye on CFE, differ on MED-TV


Turkish Daily News
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ANKARA- Turkey's appeal to Britain to close down MED-TV, a pro-separatist
Kurdish TV channel based in Britain, has fallen on deaf ears during the
visit of British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind.

Rifkind said that authorization for the TV station, which broadcasts all
over Europe, had been given by an independent commission, which was "outside
political influence." Turkey has asked Britain many times to close down the
channel. Erdal Inonu, Turkey's foreign minister, reiterated on his side that
the channel was threatening the territorial integrity of Turkey.

"I believe if our British allies look closely, they will see that this TV
channel is provocative and encourages violence. I am hopeful that they will
see that," he told reporters after a joint press conference with Rifkind.

Although the two leaders failed to see eye to eye on this matter, their
views on other issues, such as French nuclear testing, the need to deter
Bosnian Serbs, encouraging Turkey's drive toward Europe and the need to
maintain the credibility of an accord on Conventional Forces in Europe
(CFE), appeared harmonious.

Rifkind, who traveled to Turkey from Moscow, said that if there were changes
to be made on CFE, this should be through an agreement with all other
countries involved. This was a direct response to rising Turkish concerns
about the attempts of Russia to increase its arms ceilings in the Caucasus.

Rifkind maintained that Turkey's concerns were as legitimate as those of
Russia and he had made that point clear to Moscow. "Turkey and Britain have
no political problems," Inonu said in the joint press conference.

He added that they had discussed the Bosnian question in depth and both
sides hoped that the Bosnian Serbs would understand the message given to
them by NATO and the United Nations. "We sincerely prefer the establishment
of peace and a solution at the negotiation table, rather than on the
battleground," Inonu said.

Rifkind said earlier on Wednesday that NATO was prepared to do what was
necessary to ensure Bosnian Serb compliance with U.N. demands to ease the
siege of Sarajevo.

Rifkind was quoted by the Anatolia news agency as saying that any armed
resistance by Serb forces was foolish.

"This operation was necessary, but I hope it will not continue too long and
the Bosnian Serbs will accept the conditions that have been imposed," the
news agency quoted Rifkind as saying.

Rifkind has held talks with President Suleyman Demirel, Prime Minister Tansu
Ciller and Ufuk Soylemez, the chairman of the Privatization Administration.
The minister, who had breakfast with Soylemez and his aides, was accompanied
by British businessmen. The British businessmen were interested in the
privatization of the Turkish Postal Authority, Anatolia news agency
reported.
--------------------------------------------------

RIFKIND IN ANKARA

British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, who traveled to
Turkey from Moscow, said that if there were changes to be made
on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), this should be through
an agreement with all other countries involved. This was a direct
response to rising Turkish concerns about the attempts of Russia
to increase its arms ceilings in the Caucasus. Rifkind maintained
that Turkey's concerns were as legitimate as those of Russia and
he had made that point clear to Moscow. "Turkey and Britain have
no political problems" Inonu said in the joint press conference.
He added that they had discussed the Bosnian question in depth
and both sides hoped that the Bosnian Serbs would understand
the message given to them by NATO and the UN. "We sincerely
prefer the establishment of peace and a solution at the
negotiation table, rather than on the battle-ground" Inonu
said. Regarding MED-TV, a pro-separatist Kurdish TV channel
based in Britain, Inonu said: "I believe if our British allies
look closely, they will see that this TV channel is provocative
and encourages violence. I am hopeful that they will see that"
he told reporters after a joint press conference with Rifkind.
Later, Rifkind held a conference "Britain and Turkey: Regional
Cooperation". Rifkind has held talks with President Suleyman
Demirel, Prime Minister Tansu Ciller, Motherland Party (ANAP)
Chairman Mesut Yilmaz and Chairman of the Privatization
Administration Ufuk Soylemez. The minister, who had breakfast
with Soylemez and his aides, was accompanied by British
businessmen. The British businessmen were interested in the
privatization of the Turkish Postal Authority.
/Milliyet-Cumhuriyet-Sabah/


DOUBLE SUMMIT FOR NORTHERN IRAQ

Today, there is a northern Iraq summit in Tehran, Iraqi,
Turkish, Iranian and Syrian Foreign Ministers Erdal Inonu, Ali
Ekber Velayeti and Faruk El-Sara will evaluate recent regional
developments. Erdal Inonu will inform his counterparts about
the Dublin peace process and get information about PKK attacks
in northern Iraq.
On 12 September, representatives of Kurdish leaders Barzani
and Talabani will attend a meeting in Dublin, in which Turkey
will also participate. /Hurriyet/

NETHERLANDS BANS PKK MEETINGS

The Netherlands, which permitted the Kurdistan Workers' Party
(PKK) to establish a "parliament-in-exile", is now displaying
a harsh attitude against the PKK. Bram Peper, Rotterdam Mayor,
has not given permission to Kurds living in Holland who wants
to organize a festival at the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam.
/Hurriyet/


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