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TURKEY
(Continued from page 33)
reported. Accounts of armed
clashes involving Kurdish seces–
sionists are on the upswing.
Kurdish secessionists are di–
vided · into severa) groups. Ac–
cording to Turkish sources, the
best organized and most numer–
ous are the pro-Moscow fac–
tions.
Ankara's concern over events
in chaotic Iran stems partly from
possible ramifications of the Kur–
dish question.
lf
Iran were to fall
apart and lran's Kurds were to
establish an independent or au–
tonomous Kurdistan, Turkey's
Kurds would most likely be
tempted to follow suit.
Urban Guerrillas
Still another interna) threat is
posed by underground Marxist
militants operating in urban cen–
ters. Tbeir number is believed to
be in the thousands or tens of
thousands
At least nine groups are known
to "be operating in Istanbul and
Ankara, ranging from the Marx–
ist-Leninist Propaganda Union to
the Turkish Revolutionary Com–
munist Union. Officials fear that
sorne of these groups may be
actively cooperating with the
Moscow-oriented
Kurdish
groups.
Rightist armed groups are also
active in major cities. Extremist
groups of both orientations have
conducted terrorist attacks
against Americans stationed in
Turkey and against prominent
Turkish figures, including busi–
nessmen, newspaper editors and
government officials.
Political violence has taken the
lives of well over 3,000 people
since the beginning of 1979. The
death toll from political terrorism
grows longer by the day.
Sectarian tension is also a con–
cero. Violent clashes between
members of the minority Alewi
(Shiite Moslem) sect and majori–
ty Sunni Moslems brought mar–
tia) law to Turkey in February
38
1979. Martial law presently cov–
ers 19 of Turkey's 67 provinces,
including all the major cities
except lzmir.
Government, Economy in Chaos
All these problems are com–
pounded by a government in tur–
moil. Widespread popular dissat–
isfaction with the country's
chronic problems has led to fre–
quent changes in government.
Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit
was overthrown last October af–
ter less than two years in office.
Shortly afterwards, Suleyman
Demirel assumed power. Demirel
had been premier when the Turks
invaded Cyprus in 1974.
Mr. Demirel 's present govern–
ment does not command a solid
majority.
lt
depends on small
factions in parliament to stay in
power. The result is a weak, inef–
fective government which lacks
resoluteness in dealing with the
country's acute problems. Bitter
political bickering has become
the order of the day. Meantime,
the interna) situation continues to
deteriorate.
There has been increasing talk
of late that the armed forces may
be planning to seize power in an
attempt to forcefully confront the
country's political disorder before
it is too late.
Turkey's near-desperate eco–
nomic situation further aggra–
vates the picture. The nation's
cost of living is skyrocketing.
lnflation is currently running at
80 percent. Unemployment is
close to 20 percent. Fully four
million Turks are out of work.
Turkey spends more on foreign
oil ($330 million a month) than it
earns from all of its exports.
Turkey's foreign debt is now run–
ning at well over $12 billion.
Prime Minister Demirel has in–
troduced a drastic economic pro–
gram to rescue his country from
impending collapse. But he also
urgently needs Western financia)
assistance if he is to get the
faltering economy moving.
In short, Turkey is moving
dangerously close to catastrophic
economic collapse. Economists
wonder how long the country can
continue to muddle through.
West European Li nks Sought
Turkey hopes to find the solu–
tions to at least sorne of its prob–
Jems, within the framework of
the European Community (EC).
Turkey is currently an associate
member of the EC- also known
as the Common Market.
Part of Mr. Demirel 's new eco–
nomic program is the pursuit of
fu//
membership in the European
Community. In view of the pres–
ent state of Turkey's economy,
Turkey's formal application for
full membership will undoubtedly
be followed by a long period of
negotiation.
Nevertheless, Mr. Demirel in–
sists, "We are determined to stay
in Europe.... We don't want to
be separated from Eu–
rope.... We want to be a full
member of the EEC."
This emphasis on Europe is
significant when seen in the light
of Bible prophecy. The Turks
have not forgotten their "be–
trayal" by Washington in 1975.
The U.S. arms embargo severely
eroded Turkey's confidence in
America's dependability. Turks
no longer feel they can be assured
of full support from their distant
American allies in the event of
any future military confrontation
with the Soviet Union.
Cultivating stronger military
ties with its European NATO
alijes- as well as . stronger eco–
nomic ties with the EC- is seen
by many Turks as their country's
most prudent course for the long
run.
Ties with West Germany are
showing particular promise.
Chancellor Schmidt has pledged
his country's strong support for
Turkey and has promised consid–
erable financia) assistance in
coming years.
The stage is now being set for
closer Turkish economic and mil–
itary ties to a Europe that will
soon see the final short-lived revi–
va) of the Roman Empire. Oba–
diah's ancient prophecies are fast
moving towards fulfillment! o
The
PLAIN TRUTH