Voice of America, 98-11-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] ITALY/GERMANY/TURKEY (L-ONLY) CQ BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

[02] FRENCH AFRICA SUMMIT UPDATE (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[01] ITALY/GERMANY/TURKEY (L-ONLY) CQ BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (ANKARA)

INTRO: AT LEAST 15 TURKISH SOLDIERS DIED AFTER A MILITARY HELICOPTER CARRYING THE MEN CRASHED IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCE OF HAKKARI FRIDAY. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE CRASH OCCURED SHORTLY AFTER KURDISH REBEL LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN THREATENED FURTHER ATTACKS AGAINST TURKISH SECURITY FORCES.

TEXT: THE REASONS FOR THE CRASH WHICH OCCURRED LATE FRIDAY IN THE MOUNTAINOUS HAKKARI PROVINCE REMAINED UNCLEAR. MILITARY SOURCES SAID THE CRASH TOOK PLACE AS THE HELICOPTER WAS RETURNING FROM AN OPERATION AGAINST REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY OR PKK.

CLASHES BETWEEN THE PKK AND THE SECURITY FORCES FREQUENTLY OCCUR IN HAKKARI PROVINCE WHICH BORDERS IRAQ.

THE PKK HAS BEEN WAGING A 14 YEAR LONG ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR SELF-RULE IN TURKEY'S MAINLY KURDISH SOUTHEASTERN PROVINCES.

LATE FRIDAY PKK LEADER ABDULLAH OCALAN WHO IS UNDER POLICE SURVEILLANCE IN ROME WARNED ON KURDISH TELEVISION THAT, IN HIS WORDS, IF HIS REBELS WERE TO SHOW THEIR TRUE FORCE THE RESULTS WOULD BE DIRE FOR TURKISH SECURITY FORCES.

TURKEY AND ITALY REMAIN EMBROILED IN A PROTRACTED DISPUTE OVER THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT'S REFUSAL TO EXTRADITE THE PKK LEADER AFTER HE CAME TO ROME EARLIER THIS MONTH FROM MOSCOW

ITALY'S CONSTITUTION FORBIDS EXTRADITING ANYONE LIKELY TO FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IN THEIR NATIVE COUNTRY. AND ITALIAN AUTHORITIES SAY MR. OCALAN COULD BE EXECUTED IF RETURNED TO TURKEY WHERE THE DEATH PENALTY REMAINS IN FORCE.

MEANWHILE GERMAN AUTHORITES HAVE SAID THEY WILL NOT SEEK MR. OCALAN'S EXTRADITION ALTHOUGH A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST OVER HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN THE SLAYING OF TWO KURDISH REBEL DESERTERS IN GERMANY IS PENDING.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER AND ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER MASSIMO D'ALEMA PROVOKED A HARSH RESPONSE FROM TURKISH AUTHORITIES FRIDAY AFTER PROPOSING THAT MR. OCALAN BE TRIED BY AN INTERNATIONAL COURT. TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ISMAIL CEM DESCRIBED THE INITIATIVE AS EMPTY AND BASELESS AND SAID TURKEY WILL PRESS FOR OCALAN'S EXTRADITION. NEARLY 40-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE DIED SINCE THE PKK LAUNCHED ITS ARMED CAMPAIGN FOR KURDISH SELF RULE IN 1984. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PLM
28-Nov-98 8:04 AM EST (1304 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] FRENCH AFRICA SUMMIT UPDATE (L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: MEETING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE 20TH FRANCE-AFRICA SUMMIT CONFERENCE IN PARIS, THE STATES BACKING THE REBELLION IN CONGO-KINSHASA SAID SATURDAY THEY HAVE AGREED ON AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. THE REBELS THEMSELVES, HOWEVER, SAY THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WELCOME THE IDEA, THEY WERE NOT CONSULTED AND WILL CONTINUE FIGHTING. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: THE BREAKTHROUGH IN THE FOUR-MONTH CRISIS THAT THREATENS THE RULE OF PRESIDENT KABILA CAME JUST BEFORE THE FRANCO-AFRICAN SUMMIT WAS DUE TO CLOSE IN PARIS.

BROUGHT TOGETHER BY UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN, THE LEADERS OF RWANDA AND UGANDA, WHICH BOTH HAVE TROOPS FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE REBELS, AGREED ON AN IMMEDIATE TRUCE WITH PRESIDENT KABILA'S FORCES. HOWEVER, DOUBT ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF THE ACCORD WAS RAISED BY REBEL REPRESENTATIVES WHO ALSO SENT A DELEGATION TO PARIS DURING THE 50-NATION FRANCE-AFRICA SUMMIT BUT WERE NOT PART OF ITS OFFICIAL WORK. THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT BEEN CONSULTED.

ARTHUR ZAHIDI NGOMA -- ONE OF THE REBEL LEADERS -- SAID THE REBELS WELCOME THE TRUCE BUT STILL INTEND TO CONTINUE THEIR FIGHT AGAINST PRESIDENT KABILA FOR THE MOMENT.

IF THE PARIS AGREEMENT IS FOLLOWED UP AS PLANNED, THERE WILL BE A FURTHER MEETING IN LUSAKA, ZAMBIA, EARLY IN DECEMBER FOLLOWED BY THE CONCLUSION OF A FULL PEACE ACCORD IN OUAGADOUGOU IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH.

THE REBELS' FIRST COMMENTS ON THE PARIS AGREEMENT SHOWED HOW FRAGILE IT REMAINS EVEN AS PRESIDENT KABILA HIMSELF CONFIRMED THE SUBSTANCE.

ALTHOUGH THE UNEXPECTED PROGRESS MADE WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A PERSONAL VICTORY FOR THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL, MR. ANNAN SAID HE HOPES THE WARRING PARTIES WILL CONCLUDE AN AGREEMENT QUICKLY AND NOT CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

HIS WORDS WERE ECHOED BY FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC AND FRANCE'S FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE, WHO SAID IT IS NOW URGENT TO GET ALL THE COUNTRIES CONCERNED TO THE CONFERENCE TABLE TO END A CONFLICT THAT MANY ANALYSTS FEAR COULD SPREAD ACROSS THE WHOLE OF AFRICA'S GREAT LAKES REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/JN/CBL/EH
28-Nov-98 6:45 PM EST (2345 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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