TURKEY/GREECE (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN/ANKARA

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

DATE=6/1/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-179717

TITLE=TURKEY/GREECE (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN

DATELINE=ANKARA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: TENSION HAS INCREASED BETWEEN TURKEY AND GREECE AFTERTHE GREEK PARLIAMENT PASSED MARITIME LEGISLATION LATE WEDNESDAY. THE NEW LAW ENABLES ATHENS TO EXTEND ITS TERRITORIAL WATERS FROM 10 TO 20 KILOMETERS. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS SAID SUCH A MOVE COULD LEAD TO HOSTILITIES.

TEXT: JUST HOURS AFTER THE GREEK PARLIAMENT VOTED TO ADOPT THE LAW OF THE SEA CONVENTION WHICH ENABLES GREECE TO DOUBLE ITS TERRITORIAL WATERS FROM THE CURRENT 10 KILOMETER LIMIT TO 20 KILOMETERS, THE TURKISH MILITARY BEGAN PREPARING FOR TWO WEEKS OF EXERCISES AROUND THE AEGEAN SEA.

TURKISH OFFICIALS DESCRIBE THE MILITARY EXCERCISES AS ROUTINE AND DENY THEY ARE IN ANY WAY LINKED WITH THE GREEK PARLIAMENT'S DECISION. THEY ADD THAT ALL COUNTRIES CONCERNED, GREECE INCLUDED, WERE INFORMED OF THE EXCERCISES LONG BEFORE.

GREECE HAS NOT SAID IT WILL ACTUALLY ENFORCE THE TREATY, BUT HAS SIMPLY STATED THAT IT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DO SO WHEN IT SEES FIT. WESTERN ANALYSTS SAY IT IS UNLIKELY THAT GREECE WOULD ACTUALLY RISK GOING TO WAR WITH TURKEY. WITH 700-THOUSAND MEN UNDER ARMS, TURKEY HAS THE SECOND LARGEST ARMY IN NATO AND COULD EASILY DEFEAT GREECE, THEY SAY.AND TURKEY, WHICH IS BOGGED DOWN IN AN 11 YEAR WAR AGAINST KURDISH SEPARATIST REBELS IN THE MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEAST REGION CAN ILL AFFORD TO GO TO WAR AGAINST GREECE.

INDEED MUCH OF THE RHETORIC ON BOTH SIDES, ANALYSTS SAY, IS LARGELY AIMED AT DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION.

EVEN SO, WESTERN DIPLOMATS REMAIN NERVOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO NATO MEMBERS, WHICH REMAIN AT LOGGERHEADS OVER A WIDE ARRAY OF ISSUES. MOST CONTENTIOUS OF ALL ARE THE STATUS OF THE DIVIDED ISLAND OF CYPRUS AND RIGHTS OVER THE DISPUTED AEGEAN SEA.

THE TWO HISTORICAL ENEMIES NEARLY WENT TO WAR IN 1987 ABOUT MINERAL AND EXPLORATION RIGHTS IN THE AEGEAN.

TURKEY SAYS THE EXTENSION OF THE 10 KILOMETER LIMIT ON TERRITORIAL WATERS WOULD TURN THE AEGEAN INTO WHAT TURKISH OFFICIALS DESCRIBE AS A GREEK LAKE AND CHOKE OFF TURKEY'S ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL WATERS. (SIGNED)

NEB/AZ/MH/CF

01-Jun-95 10:50 AM EDT (1450 UTC)

NNNN

Source: Voice of America