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Rice to face Greek, Kurd issues
24.4.2006
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NICOSIA, Cyprus,
April 24, 2006 -- Threats of more carnage by restive
Kurds and a growing feud over the role of Islam will
greet Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on her
one-day visit to Turkey on Wednesday.
Veteran diplomats said that regardless of the agenda
established in Washington, Miss Rice will be unable
to avoid discussions on longtime Greek-Turkish
problems, which have not changed significantly in
years.
From Greece -- where Miss Rice will stop Thursday --
come warnings about the slow pace of reforms
required before Turkey can join the European Union
and of demonstrations against U.S. policies in the
area.
Western diplomats stressed the delicate nature of
Miss Rice's mission, pointing to rising tension
between Greece and Turkey, Turkey's growing ethnic
and religious crises, and its difficulties with the
EU accession process.
"There is a general view in the EU that Turkey is
experiencing a 'reforms fatigue,'?" said Giorgos
Koumoutsakos, a spokesman for the Greek Foreign
Ministry.
Greek officials said they were not concerned about
threats of anti-U.S. demonstrations during Miss
Rice's stay in Athens. "Greek people are
hospitable," said Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.
"We have traditionally good relations with the
United States. I am not afraid of anything."
Foremost among Greek fears is a concern that a
worldwide Islamic revival is gaining ground in
Turkey. Greece also worries about Turkey's refusal
to compromise in efforts to establish a viable
bicommunal state on Cyprus.
"It must be seriously examined whether Turkey's EU
course is feeding a dangerous instability in that
country," wrote the Athens conservative daily
Kathimerini.
The newspaper referred to EU criticism of a proposed
Turkish anti-terrorism law, described by European
specialists and some Turkish media as encompassing
too many crimes and prone to abuse.
The planned law largely was prompted by mounting
Kurdish unrest and threats by radicals to create "a
climate of fear and chaos" in cities and resort
areas popular with foreign tourists.
Turkish political tensions have been aggravated by a
debate pitting Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
against President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, in which the
secular president said the governing party was
leading Turkey toward Islamic fundamentalism.
Miss Rice is scheduled to see both Turkish leaders
in what Turkish officials describe as a review of
relations between the two countries, with particular
stress on problems with Iran and Iraq.
Turkey is particularly anxious to obtain a U.S.
commitment to prevent arms and guerrillas from
crossing into the country from Kurdistan (northern
Iraq).
Washington Times.com
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