Voice of America, 10 July 1996

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

[02] BOSNIA / BODIES (S) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

[03] EGYPT/TURKEY L BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

[04] PERRY/BOSNIA (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

[05] TURKEY/ISLAM (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[01] WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY DAN NOBLE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES BY BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAEL'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, IS ONE OF THE TOPICS DISCUSSED TODAY ON THE EDITORIAL PAGES OF SOME OF AMERICA'S LEADING NEWSPAPERS. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE HIJACKING OF A PLANE FROM CUBA, AND CONTROVERSY OVER THE RELIABILITY OF HIGH-TECH WEAPONS. NOW, HERE IS ___________________ WITH A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE AND OTHER COMMENTS IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: PRESIDENT CLINTON MET WITH PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU YESTERDAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE. IN A NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING THEIR DISCUSSION, MR. NETANYAHU SAID -- IN HIS WORDS -- "WHILE WE YIELD TO NO ONE IN OUR DESIRE FOR PEACE, ON THE QUESTION OF SECURITY AND TERRORISM WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THE NOTION THAT PEACE AND TERRORISM CAN COEXIST UNDER ONE ROOF." IN ITS LEAD EDITORIAL, TODAY'S BALTIMORE SUN SAYS THAT THE AMERICAN-ISRAELI ALLIANCE "TRANSCENDS DISAGREEMENTS.

VOICE: "BOTH MEN AGREE ON THE NEED FOR PEACE WITH SECURITY BETWEEN ISRAEL AND ALL ITS NEIGHBORS. MR. CLINTON GOES INTO HIS RE-ELECTION QUEST NEEDING THE MOMENTUM TOWARD PEACE TO CONTINUE. MR. NETANYAHU WON ELECTION STRESSING THE SECURITY COMPONENT. MR. NETANYAHU'S GENERAL LANGUAGE WHILE HERE IS CERTAINLY SATISFACTORY... BUT THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CONTINUE TO PRESS FOR ISRAELI TROOP REDEPLOYMENT FROM HEBRON, FOR RESTRAINT ON SETTLEMENTS IN THE WEST BANK AND FOR MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE P-L-O ON THE FINAL STATUS OF PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY. MR. NETANYAHU MIGHT SILENTLY WELCOME SUCH PRESSURE. A MEANINGFUL, CONFIDENCE-BUILDING FIRST STEP WOULD BE REOPENING ISRAEL'S BORDERS TO PALESTINIAN LABOR. NOTE THAT MR. NETANYAHU HAS NEVER CATEGORICALLY REFUSED TO MEET YASSER ARAFAT, BUT HAS MERELY SHOWN A LACK OF ENTHUSIASM THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE."

TEXT: LINDA CHAVEZ, WHOSE COLUMN APPEARS IN THE USA TODAY NEWSPAPER, WRITES THAT "MOST AMERICANS ARE GETTING THEIR FIRST REAL LOOK AT...BENJAMIN NETANYAHU THIS WEEK." AND, SHE NOTES: "...THEY'RE IN FOR QUITE A SURPRISE."

VOICE: "BOTH DURING AND AFTER THE ISRAELI ELECTION, THE MEDIA PAINTED (MR.) NETANYAHU AS A RIGHT-WING POLITICIAN BENT ON DESTROYING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. BUT THE PORTRAIT SAYS MORE ABOUT THE MEDIA'S LIBERAL BIAS THAN IT DOES ABOUT ISRAELI POLITICS OR THE FUTURE OF THE PEACE PROCESS... THERE IS NOTHING RIGHT-WING OR EXTREMIST IN THE VIEW THAT A NATION HAS THE RIGHT TO SAFE AND SECURE BORDERS. EVEN WITH A GENERALLY HOSTILE U-S PRESS, PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU WILL HAVE NO TROUBLE CONVINCING MOST AMERICANS THAT SECURITY IS NOT ONLY COMPATIBLE WITH PEACE BUT IS ITS NECESSARY PRE-CONDITION."

TEXT: ON SUNDAY, LT. COL. JOSE FERNANDEZ PUPO, WHO IS SAID TO BE AN OFFICIAL OF CUBA'S INTERIOR MINISTRY, "ALLEGEDLY HIJACKED A CUBAN COMMERCIAL FLIGHT AT GUNPOINT." THE PLANE LANDED AT THE U-S NAVAL BASE AT GUANTANAMO BAY. THE HIJACKER ASKED FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM. THE MIAMI HERALD OFFERS THIS VIEW:

VOICE: "UNLIKE THE CUBAN PILOT WHO COMMANDEERED HIS OWN AIRCRAFT TO THE UNITED STATES IN 1993 (AND WHOM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT RIGHTLY DECIDED NOT TO PROSECUTE), COLONEL FERNANDEZ PUPO WAS NOT LEGALLY IN COMMAND OF THE AIRPLANE THAT HE COMMANDEERED. ON THE SURFACE, THE COLONEL'S ACTIONS BEAR ALL THE HALLMARKS OF CLASSIC AIR PIRACY -- WHICH IS THE TERM THAT A STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN QUITE PROPERLY USED TO DENOUNCE THE HIJACKING. HENCE THE FACTS SEEM TO WARRANT FEDERAL PROSECUTION OF MR. FERNANDEZ PUP. HE COERCED A PILOT BY BRANDISHING TWO PISTOLS, THEREBY ENDANGERING LIVES AND HOLDING THE PLANE'S CREW AND 14 PASSENGERS AGAINST THEIR WILL. [OPT] IF WASHINGTON DOES NOT PROSECUTE THIS MAN, IT COULD GIVE THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT A PERFECT PRETEXT FOR DISREGARDING ITS IMMIGRATION AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES, OPENING THE ISLAND'S FLOODGATES AND ALLOWING THOUSANDS OF RAFTERS INTO THE FLORIDA STRAIGHTS ONCE MORE.... [END OPT] AIR PIRACY IS A SERIOUS CRIME. THE HIJACKER'S MOTIVES ARE IMMATERIAL."

TEXT: ON ITS EDITORIAL PAGE, THE WASHINGTON TIMES ASKS A QUESTION ABOUT THE CUBAN OFFICER:

VOICE: "...ASSUMING HE IS NOT A PLANT, AND WE'RE NOT ABOUT TO EXTRADITE HIM, WHAT'S TO BE DONE WITH HIM? ONE OPTION, OBVIOUSLY THE ONE HE'S REQUESTING, IS TO GRANT HIM POLITICAL ASYLUM. IT'S HARD TO ARGUE AGAINST THE NOTION THAT SOMEONE FLEEING CUBA IS PRETTY MUCH AUTOMATICALLY A POLITICAL REFUGEE. BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, BRANDISHING GUNS AND FORCING 17 PASSENGERS AND CREW TO A DESTINATION THEY HAD NO DESIRE TO REACH IS NOT SOMETHING ANYONE CAN CONDONE. IT WAS A CLEAR ACT OF AIR PIRACY, IF EVER THERE WAS ONE -- AND A PROSECUTABLE OFFENSE. [OPT] BUT IS THERE NO DISTINCTION TO BE MADE BETWEEN, SAY, A TERRORIST WHO HIJACKS (AND FREQUENTLY MURDERS AS WELL) TO BEND AN ENTIRE GOVERNMENT TO HIS VIOLENT WILL, AND A CRIMINAL WHO HIJACKS TO AVOID THE LONG ARM OF THE LAW, AND A PERSON WITH NO OTHER WAY TO ESCAPE THE OPPRESSION THAT IS UNDENIABLY THE FACT OF CUBAN LIFE? [END OPT] SHOULD THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DECIDE TO PROSECUTE THE COLONEL, IT WILL SURELY FACE SOME HEAVY MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES."

TEXT: THE LEAD EDITORIAL OF TODAY'S CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR DISCUSSES INDONESIA. THE NEWSPAPER TELLS READERS THAT "WITH 204 MILLION PEOPLE, IT'S THE FOURTH LARGEST NATION ON EARTH. ITS ECONOMY IS GROWING AT AN EIGHT PERCENT YEARLY RATE, LIFTING MANY INDONESIANS OUT OF POVERTY."

VOICE: "INDONESIA'S DEVELOPMENT AS AN ECONOMIC FORCE AND A REGIONAL POWER BEARS WATCHING BY AMERICANS AND OTHER WESTERNERS AS WELL AS BY ASIANS. WHY? BECAUSE INDONESIA'S RAPID GROWTH, IF SUSTAINED, COULD TURN THE COUNTRY INTO A MAJOR MARKET FOR GOODS FROM AMERICA, EUROPE, AND JAPAN... BECAUSE INDONESIA OCCUPIES A KEY STRATEGIC CROSSROADS, CONNECTING THE PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS AND PROVIDING NAVAL ACCESS TO SUCH HOT SPOTS AS THE PERSIAN GULF... BECAUSE INDONESIA HAS THE WORLD'S LARGEST MUSLIM POPULATION, MAKING IT THE ANCHOR OF ISLAM'S ASIAN DEMOGRAPHIC CENTER. SOME OBSERVERS FEEL INDONESIA, WITH ITS MULTIETHNIC CHARACTER AND RELATIVELY GOOD RECORD ON INTERRELIGIOUS RELATIONS, COULD HELP EMPHASIZE THE MORE TOLERANT, MORE MODERN FACETS OF ISLAM -- COUNTERING THE IMAGE OF RADICALISM AND FUNDAMENTALISM. THUS INDONESIA HAS A KEY ROLE TO PLAY IN SMOOTHING RELATIONS BETWEEN THE DEVELOPED WORLD, NOTABLY THE US, AND IMPORTANT FORCES IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD."

TEXT: AND, FINALLY, THE LOS ANGELES TIMES DISCUSSES A NEW REPORT, ISSUED BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, CONGRESS' INVESTIGATORY ARM. ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER, THE STUDY "CONCLUDES THAT MUCH OF WHAT THE PENTAGON AND ITS WEAPONS SUPPLIERS CLAIMED ABOUT THE WEAPONS USED IN THE AIR WAR AGAINST IRAQ WAS 'OVERSTATED, MISLEADING, INCONSISTENT WITH THE BEST AVAILABLE DATA OR UNVERIFIABLE'."

VOICE: "THE GULF WAR WAS ONE IN WHICH THE FLOW OF INFORMATION ABOUT ALLIED OPERATIONS AGAIN IRAQ WAS TIGHTLY CONTROLLED BY U-S MILITARY HEADQUARTERS IN SAUDI ARABIA. DURING THE FIGHTING, FEW AMERICAN REPORTERS HAD THE CHANCE TO MOVE ABOUT INDEPENDENTLY... CENSORSHIP IN WARTIME IS DEFENSIBLE WHEN SECURITY IS DEMONSTRABLY INVOLVED OR WHERE LIVES ARE AT STAKE. IT'S NOT DEFENSIBLE IN A DEMOCRACY WHEN IT'S USED BY OFFICIALS TO SHADE THE TRUTH OR OTHERWISE MISLEAD THE PUBLIC. THE GAO REPORT MADE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK, A BRIEF UNCLASSIFIED SUMMARY..., LEAVES LITTLE DOUBT THAT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF SOME MAJOR, HIGH-COST U-S WEAPONS WAS MANIPULATED TO GIVE A DISTORTED IMPRESSION OF HOW WELL THEY WORKED. SO THE WHOLE TRUTH WAS NOT TOLD, NOR WAS THERE ANY OFFICIAL RUSH AFTER THE WAR TO FILL IN OMISSIONS. TO DO THAT TOOK MORE THAN FOUR YEARS, AND A PUSH BY CONGRESS."

TEXT: THAT LOS ANGELES TIMES EDITORIAL CONCLUDES OUR SAMPLING OF EDITORIALS FROM TODAY'S U-S PRESS.
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10-Jul-96 12:12 PM EDT (1612 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BOSNIA / BODIES (S) BY DAVID FOLEY (SARAJEVO)

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY A TEAM OF FORENSIC EXPERTS TRYING TO RECOVER BODIES FROM THE HILLS AROUND SREBRENICA HAS HAD TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY, AFTER LOCAL BOSNIAN SERB AUTHORITIES REFUSED TO GUARANTEE THEIR SECURITY. // OPT // THIS GROUP IS SEPARATE FROM THE LARGE TEAM DISPATCHED BY THE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL IN THE HAGUE. // END OPT // DAVID FOLEY IN SARAJEVO REPORTS THE TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS FROM FINLAND WAS ABLE TO WORK FOR ONLY ONE DAY BEFORE DECIDING TO LEAVE.

TEXT: THE TEAM OF FINNISH EXPERTS HAD PLANNED TO SPEND FOUR WEEKS RECOVERING BODIES OF MUSLIMS THAT ARE STILL LYING ON THE SURFACE OF THE HILLS AROUND SREBRENICA, A YEAR AFTER THE BOSNIAN SERB ARMY OVERRAN THE TOWN.

THE UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN IN SARAJEVO, ALEX IVANKO, SAYS DESPITE SECURITY GUARANTEES FROM THE BOSNIAN SERB'S ACTING PRESIDENT, BILJANA PLAVSIC, LOCAL SERB POLICE REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE INVESTIGATORS FROM THE U-N CENTER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

THE PROMISES AND GUARANTEES THAT WERE GIVEN, SURPRISE, SURPRISE, DID NOT MATERIALIZE ON THE GROUND, AND THANKS TO THE REPUBLIKA SRPSKA AUTHORITIES, ANOTHER HUMANITARIAN PROJECT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO PROCEED.

BOSNIAN SERBS HAVE NOT INTERFERED WITH INVESTIGATORS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL, WHO ARE CURRENTLY EXHUMING A MASS GRAVE NEAR SREBRENICA. (SIGNED)
NEB/DF/JWH/MMK
10-Jul-96 10:12 AM EDT (1412 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] EGYPT/TURKEY L BY LAURIE KASSMAN (CAIRO)

INTRO: EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK HEADS TO ANKARA (THURSDAY) FOR A DAY OF CONSULTATIONS WITH TURKEY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, NECMETTIN ERBEKAN, AS WELL AS WITH PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMIREL AND FOREIGN MINISTER TANSU CILLER. OUR CAIRO CORRESPONDENT, LAURIE KASSMAN, HAS MORE ON THE TRIP.

TEXT: THE VISIT COMES JUST TWO-AND-ONE-HALF WEEKS AFTER LEADERS AT AN ARAB SUMMIT IN CAIRO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT TURKEY'S NEW MILITARY TRAINING AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL. PRESIDENT MUBARAK'S TRIP TO ANKARA ALSO COMES BEFORE THE EXPECTED VISIT TO CAIRO THIS MONTH OF ISRAEL'S NEW PRIME MINISTER, BENJAMIN NETANYAHU.

EGYPT AND OTHER ARAB NEIGHBORS HAVE CRITICIZED TURKEY FOR SIGNING A MILITARY TRAINING PACT THAT LETS ISRAELI PILOTS USE TURKISH BASES AND AIRSPACE FOR TRAINING EXERCISES.

SEVERAL ANALYSTS IN THE REGION HAVE SUGGESTED THE ARRANGEMENT IS A WAY TO SQUEEZE SYRIA, WHICH TURKEY ACCUSES OF HARBORING AND SUPPORTING ANTI-GOVERNMENT KURDISH REBELS.

TURKISH OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN UPSET BY THE ARAB REACTION AND INSIST THE AGREEMENT IS NOT AIMED AGAINST ANY OTHER STATE IN THE REGION. TURKEY HAS SIMILAR AGREEMENTS WITH SEVERAL ARAB GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING EGYPT.

BUT TURKEY'S NEW PRIME MINISTER HAS PLEDGED TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONS WITH THE ARAB WORLD. HIS "ISLAMIST WELFARE PARTY" HAS SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE MILITARY DEAL WITH ISRAEL.

DURING HIS ONE-DAY VISIT, PRESIDENT MUBARAK WILL ALSO MEET WITH TANSU CILLER, THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER WHO NOW HOLDS THE POSTS OF FOREIGN MINISTER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER. MRS. CILLER'S AGREEMENT TWO-WEEKS AGO TO FORM A RULING COALITION WITH MR. ERBEKAN'S PARTY SPARKED SEVERAL RESIGNATIONS WITHIN HER OWN SECULAR "TRUE PATH" PARTY IN PROTEST OVER ANY ALLIANCE WITH AN ISLAMIST GROUP. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/PCF/RAE
10-Jul-96 9:29 AM EDT (1329 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] PERRY/BOSNIA (S) BY DAVID GOLLUST (PENTAGON)

INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM PERRY IS WARNING U-S AND OTHER NATO PEACEKEEPERS THAT THE LAST SIX-MONTHS OF THEIR DEPLOYMENT IN BOSNIA MAY BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE FIRST. U-S AND ALLIED CASUALTIES IN BOSNIA HAVE BEEN MINIMAL THIS FAR. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: MR. PERRY SAYS NATO PEACEKEEPERS MUST AVOID COMPLACENCY WARNING THAT THE FINAL MONTHS OF THEIR STAY IN BOSNIA WILL BE THE MOST DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT.

IN COMMENTS AT A NAVY TRAINING CENTER IN RHODE ISLAND, MONITORED HERE, THE DEFENSE SECRETARY SAID CIVIL ELEMENTS OF THE DAYTON ACCORDS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WILL INEVITABLY CAUSE TURBULENCE. THESE, HE SAID, INCLUDE RESETTLING REFUGEES, CONDUCTING ELECTIONS AND ARRESTING ACCUSED WAR CRIMINALS -- ALL OF WHICH, HE SAID, WILL CHALLENGE THE ABILITY OF THE NATO-LED FORCE TO MAINTAIN PEACE.

THE DEFENSE CHIEF, AS BEFORE, DID NOT COMMIT NATO TROOPS TO ACTIVELY PURSUE WAR CRIMINALS -- A POLICY THAT HAS DRAWN WIDESPREAD CRITICISM.

MR. PERRY SAID THE SUCCESS OF THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION AND ITS LOW CASUALTY RATE HAVE DEFIED SKEPTICS WHO FORECAST THAT NATO WOULD MEET FIERCE RESISTANCE AND BE DRAWN INTO THE BALKANS WAR. THUS FAR, HE SAID, U-S TROOPS HAVE BEEN SAFER IN BOSNIA STATISTICALLY -- THAN THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD THEY REMAINED IN GARRISON IN GERMANY. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/GKT/PT
10-Jul-96 3:55 PM EDT (1955 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] TURKEY/ISLAM (L) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: THE APPOINTMENT OF THE LEADER OF THE TURKISH WELFARE PARTY, NECMETTIN ERBAKAN, AS THE COUNTRY'S FIRST EVER PRO-ISLAMIST PRIME MINISTER, IS AROUSING FEARS AMONG TURKEY'S PRO-SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT THE WESTERN ORIENTATION OF THE 73-YEAR-OLD REPUBLIC, FOUNDED BY KEMAL ATATURK, IS NOW UNDER THREAT. FROM ANKARA, AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS WHY.

TEXT: SITTING IN A FASHIONABLE CAFE IN ANKARA'S UPMARKET GAZIOSMANPASA DISTRICT, BURCU UNLAR, A 20-YEAR-OLD ECONOMICS STUDENT, SAYS SHE FEELS DEEPLY WORRIED ABOUT THE NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT LED BY WELFARE PARTY LEADER NECMETTIN ERBAKAN.

LIKE MOST OF HER FELLOW STUDENTS, SHE IS CONCERNED THE PRO-ISLAMIC GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK TO INTERFERE WITH HER LIFESTYLE AND WAY OF DRESS. LIKE MOST OF HER FRIENDS, SHE SAYS SHE WILL NEVER ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.

OF COURSE, WE WILL WAR AGAINST (FIGHT) THEM. WE WILL NOT SHUT UP AND LISTEN TO THEM BECAUSE ATATURK IS OUR FIRST LEADER AND WE ARE WALKING THROUGH HIS IDEAS (SUPPORT HIS IDEAS) AND WE ARE CHILDREN OF HIM.

SOCIOLOGIST FERIDE ACAR SAYS TURKISH WOMEN FEEL MOST THREATENED BY THE ISLAMISTS' NEW POLITICAL POWER IN TURKEY. SHE SAYS FOR THAT REASON MANY FEEL BETRAYED BY THE COUNTRY'S FIRST WOMAN PRIME MINISTER, TANSU CILLER, FOR TEAMING UP WITH THE ISLAMISTS TO FORM THE NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT.

THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORRY AND ANXIETY ABOUT WHAT KIND OF LIFESTYLE DIFFERENCES THIS CHANGE WOULD ENTAIL -- IF ANY -- AND WHEN. WOMEN EDUCATED, AND PARTICULARLY POLITICALLY ACTIVE WOMEN, HAVE BEEN SENDING ALL KIND OF PROTEST LETTERS, FAXES TO MRS. CILLER'S OFFICE AND THEY FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN WRONGED BECAUSE MRS. CILLER HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT BACKING FROM WOMEN IN THIS COUNTRY, AND PRECISELY ON THE PROMISE THAT SHE WOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF THE ISLAMIC PARTY.

SINCE JOINING FORCES WITH MR. ERBAKAN IN HER TWIN ROLE AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER, MRS. CILLER HAS SOUGHT TO PERSUADE THE TURKISH PEOPLE -- AND WOMEN IN PARTICULAR -- SHE REMAINS THE BEST GUARANTEE FOR SECULARISM.

WESTERN DIPLOMATS AGREE SHE AND HER PARTY WILL SERVE AS A MODERATING INFLUENCE OVER THE ISLAMISTS.

FOR THEIR PART, THE ISLAMISTS ARGUE TURKISH WOMEN HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR. SINCE BECOMING PRIME MINISTER, MR. ERBAKAN HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE HAS NO INTENTION OF ALTERING TURKEY'S PRO-SECULAR COURSE.

HALISE CIFTCI IS THE HEAD OF THE ANKARA WOMEN'S BRANCH OF THE WELFARE PARTY AND SHE SAYS THAT TURKISH WOMEN WILL, IN HER WORDS, NOT BE MADE TO SUFFER THE WAY SHE HAS BY THE PRO- SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT.

MRS. CIFTCI SAYS ALTHOUGH SHE IS A TRAINED LAWYER, SHE IS NOT ALLOWED TO PRACTICE HER PROFESSION, BECAUSE UNDER TURKISH LAW WOMEN WEARING ISLAMIC-STYLE HEADSCARVES ARE NOT ALLOWED TO REGISTER WITH THE TURKISH BAR ASSOCIATION. MRS. CIFTCI SAYS THAT TURKISH WOMEN WHO CHOOSE THE VEIL SHOULD NOT BE FORCED TO DISCARD IT, NOR SHOULD OTHERS BE FORCED TO WEAR IT.

WITH MR. ERBAKAN NOW IN POWER, HER WISHES MAY FINALLY COME TRUE. BEFORE BECOMING PRIME MINISTER, MR. ERBAKAN REPEATEDLY PLEDGED UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION, TURKISH PEOPLE WOULD BE FREE TO WORSHIP AND DRESS AS THEY CHOOSE. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF/RAE
10-Jul-96 9:45 AM EDT (1345 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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