Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY-DEPUTY PREMIER (L ONLY) By HULYA POLAT/WASHINGTON From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/31/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176384 TITLE=TURKEY-DEPUTY PREMIER (L ONLY) BYLINE=HULYA POLAT DATELINE=WASHINGTON CONTENT= NOT VOICED: INTRO: THE NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF TURKEY, HIKMET CETIN, HAS DEFENDED TURKEY'S MILITARY INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ. IN AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VOA, MR. CETIN SAYS TURKEY WILL WITHDRAW FROM THE AREA AS SOON AS ITS BORDERS WITH IRAQ ARE SECURE. VOA'S HULYA POLAT HAS FILED THIS UNVOICED REPORT. TEXT: MR. CETIN SAID ANY OTHER COUNTRY WOULD ACT IN THE SAME FASHION AS TURKEY DID IF FACED WITH WHATHE TERMED A TERRORIST THREAT OF SIMILAR PROPORTIONS. HE SAID THE REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K, HAD A FERTILE GROUND TO ESTABLISH TRAINING CAMPS JUST ACROSS THE TURKISH BORDER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE TERMED THE LACK OF A CENTRAL AUTHORITY IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND THE INABILITY OF THE RIVAL IRAQI KURDISH GROUPS TO ESTABLISH CONTROL IN THE REGION. MR. CETIN SAIDTURKEY HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO LAUNCH THIS OPERATION: MR. CETIN REITERATED TURKEY'S PLEDGE TO WITHDRAW ITS FORCES FROM IRAQ AS SOON AS ITS GOALS ARE ACHIEVED. HE SAID THAT WHILE TURKEY HAS NO INTENTION OF KEEPING ITS FORCES IN NORTHERN IRAQ, IT HAS TO SECURE ITS BORDER WITH THAT COUNTRY. HE DID NOT ELABORATE. U.S. OFFICIALS, INCLUDING SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER AND VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE, HAVE EXPRESSED "UNDERSTANDING" TOWARDS TURKEY'S CROSS-BORDER OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ, SAYING TURKEY HAD THE RIGHT TO DEFEND HERSELF AGAINST TERRORISM. BUT SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER URGED TURKEY TO KEEP ITS PROMISES FOR LIMITING THE DURATION AND THE SCOPE OF THIS OPERATION. U.S. OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO CAUTIONED TURKEY AGAINST HARMING INNOCENT CIVILIANS IN THE AREA. SOME OF THE UNITED STATES' EUROPEAN ALLIES, SUCH AS FRANCE, BRITAIN AND GERMANY, HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE TURKISH OPERATION. MR. CETIN SAID TURKEY HAS NO DESIRE TO HARM CIVILIANS. HE ADDED THAT HE PERSONALLY DOES NOT WANT THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE TRAINED IN TERRORIST CAMPS TO DIE AND THAT THEY ARE BEING URGED TO SURRENDER. TURKEY'S VICE PREMIER EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE U.S. WILL CONTINUE TO APPRECIATE TURKEY'S POSITION: THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT IS REPORTED TO BE SEEKING A NEW SECURITY ARRANGEMENT INVOLVING ALLIED MILITARY FORCES TO KEEP P-K-K MILITANTS FROM RE-ESTABLISHING THEIR BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ. (SIGNED) NEB/HP/GPT 31-Mar-95 9:33 AM EST (1433 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------