DATE=2/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245553
TITLE=TURKEY / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ MET MONDAY IN 
ANKARA WITH TURKISH LEADERS.  AMBERIN ZAMAN IN ANKARA REPORTS 
BOTH MR. AZIZ AND TURKISH PRIME MINISTER BULENT ECEVIT DESCRIBED 
THEIR TALKS AS HIGHLY POSITIVE.

TEXT:  SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING NEARLY THREE-HOURS
OF TALKS, MR. ECEVIT SAID HE AND THE IRAQI DEPUTY PREMIER HAD 
FOCUSED ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS.

THESE INCLUDED THE NEED TO PRESERVE IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY 
AND FOR IRAQ TO COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS CALLING FOR IT TO 
DESTROY ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  THE TURKISH LEADER SAID
THE EASING OF U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON IRAQ SHOULD RUN PARALLEL 
TO THAT PROCESS.

MR. ECEVIT CONFIRMED THE IRAQI OFFICIAL ASKED TURKEY TO PREVENT 
U-S AND BRITISH WAR PLANES STATIONED AT A NATO BASE IN SOUTHERN 
TURKEY FROM CARRYING OUT ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQI TARGETS.  TURKISH 
OFFICIALS SAY THE REQUEST WAS REJECTED.

MR. ECEVIT SAID HE ASSURED MR. AZIZ THE U-S AND BRITISH PLANES 
ARE NOT BEING PERMITTED TO CARRY OUT OFFENSIVE ACTION AGAINST 
IRAQ.  HE SAID THE ALLIED FORCES ARE RESPONDING TO STEPPED UP 
IRAQI ATTACKS ON ALLIED AIR CRAFT PATROLLING THE NO-FLY ZONE OVER
NORTHERN IRAQ.

/// OPT ///  A U-S EMBASSY SPOKESMAN IN ANKARA SAID ON MONDAY, 
U-S FIGHTER JETS TAKING OFF FROM THE INCIRLIK AIR BASE IN ADANA, 
TURKEY, POUNDED IRAQI TARGETS AFTER RADAR LOCKED ONTO TWO U-S 
JETS.  /// END OPT ///

PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SHRUGGED OFF CRITICISM THAT MR AZIZ'S VISIT
WOULD DISRUPT TURKEY'S RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES, SAYING 
IT WAS "EXAGGERATED."  MR. ECEVIT WAS RESPONDING TO U-S CONCERNS 
ABOUT THE TIMING OF MR AZIZ' VISIT.  IT COINCIDES WITH STEPPED UP
SUPPORT BY THE U-S GOVERNMENT FOR IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS SEEKING
TO OVERTHROW IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.

IN SEPARATE COMMENTS, MR. AZIZ SAID RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND 
IRAQ WOULD IMPROVE IF -- AS HE PUT IT -- THERE WAS NO FOREIGN 
INTERFERENCE.  HE SAID TURKEY AND IRAQ'S LEGITIMATE CONCERNS WERE
RAISED DURING TALKS WITH THE TURKISH PRIME MINISTER.

TURKISH PRIME MINISTER ECEVIT SAID BOTH COUNTRIES SHARE FEARS 
THAT CONTINUED KURDISH SELF-RULE IN NORTHERN IRAQ MIGHT RESULT IN
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE.  MR. ECEVIT 
SAID HE HAD ADVISED THE IRAQI OFFICIAL TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES 
WITH THE IRAQI KURDS THROUGH DIALOGUE AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN 
RIGHTS.

MR. ECEVIT ALSO SAID HE HAD GIVEN MR AZIZ A DOCUMENT PREPARED BY 
THE TURKISH MILITARY WHICH HE SAID CONTAINS EVIDENCE IRAQ IS 
PROVIDING SHELTER FOR REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED SEPARATIST KURDISTAN
WORKERS' PARTY.  MR. ECEVIT SAID MR. AZIZ DENIED THE CHARGES AND 
INVITED TURKISH OFFICERS TO COME TO IRAQ TO CHECK THE FACTS FOR 
THEMSELVES.   (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/JWH/RAE

15-Feb-99 11:08 AM EST (1608 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.