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Ocalan trial will reveal PKK's European backers: Turkish diplomats

   ANKARA, March 13 (AFP) - The upcoming trial of jailed Kurdish 
rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan will disclose European countries which
have provided his Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) with financial
backing, the liberal Radikal newspaper reported Saturday.
   "The PKK's financial relations will be revealed. Ocalan's trial 
also means the trial of countries that back the PKK in one way or
another," senior Turkish diplomats headed by the Turkish foreign
ministry's under-secretary Korkmaz Haktanir told the daily.
   "Ocalan's testimony in court will upset a lot of countries," 
they added.
   The alleged confessions of Ocalan, who was captured and brought 
to Turkey last month, have already been published in Turkey's major
newspapers, in which he is reported to have incriminated several
countries including Italy, Greece, Germany, Romania and Serbia.
   Ankara has always argued that the PKK receives "aid from foreign 
countries" in its armed campaign since 1984 for Kurdish self-rule in
Turkey's southeastern region, which has claimed almost 31,000
lives.
   Turkey has especially warned its arch-rival Greece of 
"consequences" if it does not cease its support to the PKK after
Greek officiials admitted to sheltering Ocalan in the Greek
ambassador's residence in Kenya before his capture.
   The diplomats also complained that European countries failed to 
take action against Europe-based media organizations which acted as
the PKK's mouthpiece and organizations that transferred funds to the
rebels.
   "We have asked Europe to prevent these organizations from 
spreading the PKK's propaganda, but we have not yet seen a
response," Haktanir said.
   Turkey has for years been trying to stop the Belgium-based 
Kurdish television station, Med-TV, from broadcasting, arguing that
it had direct links with the rebel group.
   Following Ocalan's capture, senior PKK officials have appeared 
on Med-TV and threatened to step up their campaign against Turkey.
   Ocalan is currently awaiting trial on charges of treason on the 
Turkish prison island of Imrali in northwestern Turkey where he has
been held since his forced return to the country on Februart 16.
   The PKK leader could face the death penalty if convicted. 

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