PKK agrees to give up armed struggle
Turkey-Regional-Cyprus, Politics, 8/6/1999

The attorney general at the Turkish court, Foural Safas, called for ratifying the death sentence taken against the leader of the Kurdistani Workers Party (PKK), Abdullah Ocalan.

Safas released a two-paper document submitted to the court that will study this case, following the judicial vacation, on September 6.

Meanwhile, the PKK has announced its backing of the call advocated by its leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to give up armed struggle and withdraw to outside the Turkish territories as of September 1.

In a statement broadcast by the AFP on Thursday, the PKK leadership said the PKK completely backs the announcement made by Ocalan and will continue its efforts in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Israeli ambassador in Ankara, Ori Barner, announced on Thursday joint naval maneuvers between Israel, Turkey and the US in the eastern part of the Mediterranean during the few coming months, but he did not set an official date for such maneuvers.

In statements quoted by Israel Radio, the Israeli ambassador talked about what he described as the peaceful nature of these maneuvers which he said aim at maintaining training on certain rescue and research operations, adding that any country can join these maneuvers.

At the beginning of this year Israel, Turkey and the US carried out similar maneuvers, which were the first of their kind.

Meanwhile, the Turkish daily Hurriet said on Thursday that the question of Cyprus will be on top of matters to be discussed during the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevet to Washington in September. The Turkish daily added that the US administration will ask the Turkish Cypriots to offer concessions in land and pressure the Greek Cypriots to give up the implementation of the items of the Cypriot constitution.

The paper said the new US ambassador to Cyprus, Donald Bandler, will arrive this month to the island, which will be also visited by the US special coordinator on Cyprus Tom Miller. The two men will prepare for Washington's initiative concerning the question of Cyprus.

Previous Stories:
  Ecevit refuses Ocalan's appeal   (8/5/1999)
  Greece accuses Ankara of creating tension   (7/23/1999)
  Demirel holds talks with Barak   (7/15/1999)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search