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Turkey's security forces have launched one of their largest offensives yet in the 10-year war against guerrillas of the separatist Kurdistan Workers party (PKK).

They aim to crush the insurgency in the heavily Kurdish south-east once and for all by destroying the PKK's stores and supply routes before winter sets in. The month-old campaign is the climax of Prime Minister Tansu Qiller's hardline anti-PKK policy. She abandoned former President Turgut Ozal's search for reconciliation on taking office in June 1993, just after guerrillas ended a short-lived ceasefire by mas­sacring 32 unarmed soldiers.

But the conflict not only costs lives - 13,000 have died since fighting started in 1984 -it is also warping society, undermining the economy and distancing Turkey from its western allies.

The cost of fighting the PKK - estimated at $3bn-$7bn a year - is bankrupting the gov­ernment, which finances its deficits by borrowing and printing money. For a month, helicopters and jets have blasted away at sus­pected rebel hideouts in the rugged Munzur mountains of Tunceli province. Troops and guerrillas are clashing daily.

The government claims the offensive is working. Troops have seized caches of stores and the army says guerrillas are surrendering at a rate of two or three a day. Mr Davud Haner, Tunceli's assistant gov­ernor, is confident that "sooner or later" the PKK will be elimi­nated.

Few western analysts would agree. Previous "final offen­sives" have failed. Half Tur­key's 500,000-strong army is based in the south-east, but the PKK, probably numbering less than 20,000, battles on.

Turkish conscripts are poorly trained, badly moti­vated and do not know the region. The PKK generally keeps the initiative, raiding vil­lages and military outposts. Large areas of the south-east are no-go areas. Harsh moun­tain terrain provides well-pro­tected staging areas and cover from air attack. Turkey's ene­mies, notably Syria, have armed and trained the PKK.

Far from winning hearts and minds, crack anti-guerrilla "special teams" are hated for their brutality. The army's strategy of razing villages to deny them to the PKK further alienates local populations. Mr Musa Ток, a 70-year-old Kurd­ish peasant who fled his village near Tunceli, said: "Soldiers gave me 10 days to clear out. What can I do? My father died defending Turkey and now I am being moved off my land." A US human rights cam­paigner says that the PKK is probably more brutal than the army. "But the army has totally over-reacted and driven Turks turn full force of rage on Kurds. John Barham reports on one of the biggest offensives in 10 years of war against the PKK. Turkey's pro-Kurdish Hadep party announced yesterday that it would not participate in elections next month to fill 22 seats in parliament, citing "negative and anti-democratic conditions", writes John Bar-ham in Ankara.

The decision followed a threat issued on Wednesday by separatist PKK guerrillas that candidates fighting the elec­tions would be targeted. Each new PKK outrage increases support for tougher action, hi September, guerril­las murdered six teachers for teaching in Turkish rather than Kurdish. Ominously, Mrs Qiller's uncompromising approach is one of her weak coalition gov­ernment's few popular policies.

She is dragging her feet on promises to reform security laws that allow police to detain anyone suspected of the vague­ly-defined crimes of "separat­ism" or terrorism. By giving the generals responsibility for eliminating the PKK, she has further entrenched their con­siderable political power. Last month the army prevented Turkish MPs - including the deputy prime minister - from visiting areas of Tunceli where, according to media reports, troops were burning villages.

Remarkably, these reports sparked an anguished public debate over army operations in the south-east. Until now, most Turks have viewed the army as guiltless hi its fight against the PKK. Yet Amnesty Interna­tional has often accused the security forces of exacting fear­some reprisals on civilians for guerrilla attacks. It also sus­pects security forces of tortur­ing and assassinating opposi­tion activists.

Human rights violations dis­turb Turkey's allies. The US has cut aid to Turkey, hi Octo­ber, the European parliament suspended ties with Turkey's parliament in protest at the treason trial of 15 Kurdish MPs. Strasbourg is demanding the right to debate ratification of the customs union with Turkey scheduled for 1996. If it does so, it could well reject the customs union, a cornerstom of Turkish foreign policy.

Western governments repeatedly tell Turkish officials that a purely military approach cannot work. They urge the government to isolate the PKE by offering regional autonomy and allowing education and broadcasting in Kurdish. But Mr Ecvet Tezcan, a foreign ministry official, says "We are going to fight. There и no other way out. Europe should understand that this is a question of our survival."

The south-east is Turkey's most backward region, still in the grip of feudal landlords Although the government spends lavishly on infrastructure in the region, notably the $10bn GAP hydroelectric project, the expenditure benefits few local people.

Mr Mazlum Arslan, Tunceli's moderate mayor, says: "As well as fighting terrorism, the government must provide jobs, roads, freedom and democracy We are all totally against ter­rorism. But if you do not provide this, you justify them."

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ELECTIONS

­ 1. Read the article and Look up the meaning of the words and phrases in the dictionary.

Kenyans to elect leader in December

Kenya will hold general elections at the end of December to elect a successor to the president, who has ruled he country for 24 years. The elections will be at the end of December,” said the president, who will not be eligible under new electoral rules introduced in 1991that prohibit the head of state from serving more than two five-year terms. He gave no precise date for the elections.

Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.

eligible to run; to rule the country; under new rules; to hold general elections; a five-year term; to elect; a successor.

Complete the following statements using the active vocabulary.

I)... at the end of December

)) Kenya will elect a successor to the president, who under the new electoral rules.

1) The new electoral rules prohibit

I Read the article and Look up the meaning of the underlined words and phrases

in the dictionary.

2nd round of voting held for new Parliament

Bahrain held a second round of voting Thursday in landmark elections for the kingdom’s first Parliament, with two women candidates. 46 Results from the last week’s first round of voting showed a mix o secularist and Islamic candidates. Six women were knocked out of tht race last week, leaving two women candidates hopeful of winning seats. Kuwait is the only other Arab nation with a Parliament in the Gulf region, but women are excluded.

2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.

Elections for the Parliament; secularist candidates; to win seats; to be knocked out of the race; voting; landmark.

4. Answer the questions on the article.

1) Why do you think the voting in Bahrain is called landmark elections? 2) What did the results of the first round show? 3) Are there any women candidates? Do you think it’s typical for an Islamic

country? 4) Do any other countries in the Gulf region have a Parliament’? 5) What Gulf region countries do you know?

­ 1. Read the article and Look up the meaning of the words and phrases in the dictionary.

Election veteran promises clean-up

After a lifetime of trying, Deniz Baykal. one of Turkey’s veteran politicians, stands a chance of becoming the country’s next prime minister in Sunday’s general election.

Qpinion polls put his Republican People’s party in second place after the pro—Islamic Justice and Development party. Justice and Development party still enjoys a lead of at least 10 p centage points, but the last few days before the election may be critical in attracting undecided voters who make up almost a quarter of the electorate. Mr. Baykal needs to convince these voters that his party is best equipped to manage economy and fight corruption. Indeed, his campaign promise to lift the immunity that has shielded members of parliament from corruption charge has proven very popular.

2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.

To lift the immunity; an opinion poll; to stand a chance; to manage the economy; to enjoy a lead; to fight corruption; corruption charges; undecided voters; 10 per centage points; to make up a quarter of electorate.

Say if the following statements are true or false. Use the introductory phrases [or agreement and disagreement.

I) Deniz Baykal has no chance of winning the elections in Turkey. 2) According to the opinion polls his party takes the second place in the race. 3) Justice and Development Party enjoys the lead of about 30 per cent. 4) The number of undecided voters is very small, it’s not more than 5%.

5) Mr. Baykal has to convince the undecided voters that his party will increase spending on social needs. 6) The campaign promise to lift immunity proved very popular.

­ 1. Read the article and Look up the meaning of the words and phrases in the dictionary.

Fears for Serbian poll after low turnout

The turnout in Serbia’s presidential poll yesterday fell below the 50 cent needed for the election to be valid, threatening to create a political vacuum and stall the country’s reform program. As polling ended, turnout was estimated at only 45.5 per cent. The current Yugoslav president and projected winner easily won the majority of votes, with the preliminary count giving him 66.7 per cent of the vote, compared with 30 per cent for his rival. If the failure of the elections is confirmed, the Speaker of Serbia’s parliament will become the acting president in December. The law is unclear about when the elections should be attempted again. After the polls closed both candidates criticized the electoral law, echoing the concerns of the international community. An adviser to the president said the failed elections would force Serbia into a “political vacuum for two or three months” until the parliament calls for new polls.

2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.

To win the majority; turnout; the failed elections; the preliminary count; to stall the reform; rival; the current president; the acting president; electoral law; presidential poll.

3. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases. Reproduce the sentences from the article with them.

Несостоявшиеся выборы; получить большинство голосов; исполняющий обязанности президента; предварительный подсчет; выборы президента; действующий президент; соперник; загнать реформу в тупик; закон о выборах; явка (на избирательные участки).

4. Answer the following questions on the article using the active vocabulary.

I) What can stall the country’s reform program in Serbia? 2) What is needed for the elections to be valid? 3) How many votes did the current president get? 4) Who will become the acting president if the failure of the elections is confirmed? 5) When should next elections take place? 6) What can failed elections lead to?

­ 1. Read the article and Look up the meaning of the underlined words and phrases in the dictionary.

German election battle heads for a tense finish

Voters in Sunday’s German general elections will be sounding the closing bell on one of the most dramatic campaigns for decades. The ruling coalition of Social Democrats and Greens leads in most opinion polls this week, but the outcome and the composition of the next coalition, remain wide open. Whichever party emerges the winner, Germany’s complex voting system arid the nuances of coalition building makes the complexion of the next government difficult to predict. This year’s elections herald the first postwar reduction in the size of the Bundestag, the parliamentary lower house, from 665 to 598 seats in a response to population decline and budgetary pressures. This has intensified competition for the remaining seats. Partly because of the parties’ close standing on the polls, voter turnout is expected to be high. In the previous election, 82 per cent of voters cast ballots — high by international standards. A similar turnout among 61.2 eligible voters is expected this time. Germany’s electoral system, based on proportional representation, is distinctive in giving each elector two votes, for constituency representatives and parties. The second vote, for parties, is decisive as it determines each group’s share of the seats. Parties must also overcome a minimum 5 çent threshold to be represented in parliament, in a rule aimed at excluding small, potentially extremist groups.

Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.

Opinion polls; lower house (upper house); population decline; voting system; to stand close in the polls; outcome; electoral system; composition of a coalition; 5 per cent threshold; to ensure stable majority; to cast ballots.

Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases.

избирательная система; опрос общественного мнения; 5-процентный барьер; набрать почти равное количество голосов; итог; верхняя палата парламента (нижняя палата парламента); обеспечить стабильное большинство; отдавать голос (бюллетень); уменьшение численности населения; состав коалиции; система голосования.

Say if the following statements are true or false. Use the introductory phrases of agreement and disagreement.

I) Germany’s elections will start on Sunday. 2)The ruling coalition lags behind according to opinion polls. 3) The outcomе of the elections as well as the composition of the next coalition are not clear yet. 4) The German electoral system clearly defines the make-up of the next parliament. 5) The size of the Bundestag has been reduced this year due to budgetary pressures. 6) A great number of people are going to take part in the elections. 7) The turnout of 82% is rather low by international standards. 8) Each voter has two votes. 9) Every party that takes part in elections should be represented in the parliament.

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