Ozgur Politica    (Ozgur Politica is a pro PKK punblication in Turkish)
(Translated Text)
 Jan 12, 2001

KDP keeps distance from Ankara

As Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani continued his contacts in Ankara, Kurdistan
Democrat Party (KDP) Ankara representative Safeen Dizayee said that the PUK's rapprochement with
Turkey would not lead to changes in their own policies with Ankara. Dizayee said that the PUK fighting
against the PKK did not mean that the KDP had to fight also, and denied news that KDP leader Massoud
Barzani would be arriving in Ankara in the coming days.

KDP Ankara representative Safeen Dizayee explained his views concerning topics which had been discussed
in meetings between Talabani and Turkish government officials to the newspaper "2000'de Yeni
Gundem" (New Agenda in 2000), which is published in Turkey. Dizayee said that rapprochement between
the KDP and PUK had started together with the Ankara Process and said they had secured harmony
on all subjects other than meeting of the regional Parliament and elections. Dizayee asserted that the
Ankara Process was a continuation of the Washington Agreement and said that the United States, Great
Britain, and Turkey had all given their support to this process. Dizayee said that the PUK's relations with
Turkey would not lead to changes in the KDP's policies, continuing: "Our policies are clear. We do not
index our relations with Turkey to the PKK. We find the PKK dangerous from our own vantage, we are
struggling against the PKK. But, just because the PUK is fighting against the PKK does not mean that we
have to also."

Dizayee said that Talabani's demand that the PUK receive an equal share with the KDP of revenue from
the Habur border gate was senseless, continuing as follows: "The revenues secured from the Habur border
gate do not go to the KDP. They are collected in the Central Bank account in Arbil, which is under the
control of the Financial and Customs Ministry. The government presents projects to Parliament. The
Parliament then uses this money to finance projects which they find appropriate." The KDP representative
said that Talabani's request that a new border gate with the South [Iraqi Kurdistan] be opened was
impossible in practice, and drew attention to the fact that the region under PUK control does not have a
common border with Turkey. Concerning news appearing in the press that they would carry out a
"Sandwich Operation" against the PKK, Dizayee said that no such request had been made of them by
Turkey. The KDP representative said that he did not have the authority to say what type of stance the
KDP would take should Turkey make such a request, and also noted that the news that Barzani would
come to Ankara following Talabani's visit was not correct.

Talabani gave 'confidence' to Ankara

PUK leader Jalal Talabani, who was in Ankara this week, said that the PUK would continue its
cooperation with Turkey in the struggle against the PKK, and asserted, "We are going to pressure the PKK
in every sense to leave our region." The PUK leader, who arrived in Ankara in order to ask for military and
financial help and to cooperate with Turkey against the PKK, continued his contacts on Wednesday.
Talabani, who had met with officials from the National Intelligence Agency (MIT), General Staff, and Turkish
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk Logoglu the day before, had a 45-minute meeting with Prime
Minister Bulent Ecevit on Wednesday.

Making a statement after the meeting, Talabani said that they had discussed economic and security
matters that concern both sides, and noted that they expect understanding and support from Turkey on
economic and political fields. Ecevit, for his part, said that they had had, in general, a "very beneficial"
meeting with Talabani on matters that concern them and that Talabani had only asked for "technical and
economic assistance" from Turkey. Ecevit said that the PKK had been discussed within the framework of
"general evaluations." The Turkish Prime Minister said that they would give the necessary support on
economic and technical issues and noted thatTalabani had also met with the union of chambers of
commerce.

Talabani, failing to give detailed information about the meeting, said they had "discussed every type of
subject," adding that Ecevit had approached him in a positive manner. Talabani also said that he had
promised that he would carefully examine the reports which had been presented to him. In answer to a
question from reporters as to whether or not he had asked for military assistance from Turkey, Talabani
responded, "Not yet," and added, "We are cooperating with Turkey along all paths against every
element which threatens stability in the region."

War against PKK to continue

Talabani, meanwhile, had a meeting that lasted for 2.5 hours with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Faruk
Logoglu on Tuesday evening. Answering reporters' questions after the meeting, Talabani evaluated the
meeting as "very comprehensive and good." Talabani said that it was "necessary for Turkey to play a role"
in order to bring implementation of the Ankara Process "to a more effective condition," adding the
following: "We want Turkey to play a role. Turkey is both our friend and the KDP's friend. We asked for the
sides to be encouraged in the functioning of the Ankara Process."

Talabani noted that Turkey understood the PUK's requests and its difficulties and said that he had
given information to Ankara concerning their projects in South Kurdistan. Talabani alleged that there was
currently no situation of conflict between them and the PKK in South Kurdistan and stressed that they
would continue their cooperation with Turkey to fight against the PKK. "We hope that they will abandon our
region without any conflict at all being experienced," Talabani said, continuing to assert, "We will pressure
them in every sense to desert our region."

Search for support at the embassies

Meanwhile, Talabani, who had met with officials from the US and Japanese embassies during his first day of
contacts in Ankara, had contacts on Wednesday morning with officials from the Dutch and Egyptian
embassies. Although Talabani did not give any detailed information about these meetings, they have
been interpreted as aimed at gaining the approval and support of the US, Europe, and some regional Arab
countries in initiation of a broad assault against the PKK should the PUK cooperate with Turkey in such a
campaign in the South [Iraqi Kurdistan] this spring. Talabani additionally had a dinner meeting with
representatives of the Turkmen in Ankara on Wednesday. The contents of the meeting were not
disclosed.

Ankara 'pleased' with Talabani

According to information received, Ankara had wanted Talabani to prepare and present a list of his
demands and sent the message that it would examine that list with good intentions and endeavor to be of
assistance. Turkish officials say that the central point in Turkey's relations with both Kurdish parties in
South Kurdistan, both the PUK and the Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP), is their stance on the PKK,
and say that Talabani's PUK is following "a more convincing line" currently as compared with in the
past.

In statements made from the Turkish Foreign Ministry concerning Talabani's contacts in Ankara, officials
said that they had discussed the struggle against the PKK with him and had "a comprehensive exchange of
ideas within the framework of the unity and future of Iraq," adding that they would continue to give their
support to the PUK in its fight against the PKK.

One Foreign Ministry official said they greeted the PUK's requests for assistance in economic, financial
and military fields positively, and stressed that what was important for them was whether or not Talabani
was currently struggling against the PKK in the South. The official, answering a reporter's question as to
whether or not Talabani was giving Turkey confidence in this matter, responded as follows: "What is
important for us is not whether or not he gives confidence; we look at what he does on his field.
When we look on the field, we see that he is putting up a very serious struggle against the PKK. The PUK
has become more settled and mature."

Protest against the PUK

A protest demonstration against the PUK was held in the Camlibel neighborhood of the Yuregir district of
Adana the other evening. A large crowd of mainly young people conducted a torch-lit march and
shouted slogans such as, "Damn the PUK, Long live the PKK" and "Long live the children of the fire and
sun," and calling on the PUK not to test their patience. After the group of demonstrators dispersed,
police arriving in Camlibel took heavy security measures.

Meanwhile, detentions continue to be made following the protest demonstrations arranged at Ege
University. Sanem Ozdil, chairman of the Ege University Students' Association, has been taken into
custody on the grounds that he participated in demonstrations.