Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY/KURDS (L ONLY) by AMBERIN ZAMAN From: Yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis) Topic: voa DATE=4/4/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176549 TITLE= TURKEY/KURDS (L ONLY) BYLINE= AMBERIN ZAMAN DATELINE= ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKEY HAS SENT A HIGH-RANKING DIPLOMATIC DELEGATION TO NORTHERN IRAQ TO PERSUADE IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS TO HELP KEEP TURKISH KURD SEPARATISTS OUT OF THE REGION. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA. TEXT: THE DELEGATION, LED BY AMBASSADOR CENK DUATEPE -- THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL RESPONSIBLE FOR RESEARCH AND INTELLIGENCE -- WILL FIRST MEET WITH MASSOUD BARZANI, LEADER OF THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRAT PARTY OR K-D-P. TURKISH OFFICIALS HERE CONFIRM THE DELEGATION WILL SOUND OUT MR BARZANI ON THE POSSIBILITY OF REVIVING AN AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH HIM IN 1992. UNDER THAT PACT, MR. BARZANI'S PESHMERGA FORCES WOULD POLICE PARTS OF THE IRAQI TURKISH BORDER UNDER K-D-P CONTROL IN EXCHANGE FOR FINANCIAL AID. THE AGREEMENT WAS NEVER FULLY IMPLEMENTED, THE SAME OFFICIALS SAY, BECAUSE HARDLINERS WITHIN THE MILITARY AND PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S TRUE PATH PARTY HAD BLOCKED IT ON THE GROUNDS THE IRAQI KURDS COULD NOT BE TRUSTED TO HONOR THEIR SIDE OF THE DEAL. THE HARDLINERS' DEEP DISTRUST FELT STEMS FROM PAST COOPERATION BETWEEN THE IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS AND SEPARATIST REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT MOVED 35-THOUSAND TROOPS INTO NORTHERN IRAQ IN MID-MARCH TO DESTROY CAMPS USED BY THE P-K-K TO MOUNT CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS AGAINST TURKKISH MILITARY TARGETS. TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THAT EVEN HARDLINERS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AKNOWLEDGE THE NECCESSITY OF COMING TO TERMS WITH MR BARZANI IF THE BORDER IS TO BE PERMANENTLY SECURED -- ESPECIALLY IN THE LIGHT OF MOUNTING WESTERN PRESSURE FOR TURKISH TROOPS TO WITHDRAW FROM NORTHERN IRAQ. IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS HERE CONFIRM THE TURKISH DELEGATION WILL ALSO SOUND OUT MR BARZANI ON THE POSSIBLITY OF HIS RESUMING TALKS WITH HIS CHIEF RIVAL, JALAL TALABANI. MR. TALABANI HEADS THE PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN, OR P-U-K. THE TWO MAIN IRAQI KURDISH FACTIONS HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN A DEADLY POWER STRUGGLE SINCE MAY LAST YEAR. IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED IN THE CLASHES. ANKARA HAS LINKED ITS INCURSION IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO THE FIGHTING, SAYING IT HAS CREATED A POWER VACUUM ALONG THE TURKISH IRAQI BORDER WHICH THE P-K-K IS SEEKING TO FILL. THE TURKISH DELEGATION IS ALSO EXPECTED TO MEET WITH MR TALABANI AND PRESENT HIM WITH THE SIMILIAR PROPOSALS. (SIGNED) NEB/AZ/MAH 04-Apr-95 10:04 AM EDT (1404 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America