STATEMENT MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA


 The Government received information that Mr. Abdullah Ocalan, leader of
the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey, arrived in the country on 2nd
February, 1999 at 11:22 p.m., aboard a private jet. The request for
diplomatic clearance for the said aircraft was sought by the Embassy of
Greece. The aircraft landed without clearance, since the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs had wanted to establish the status of the persons in the
aircraft prior to its arrival.

 The Government also established that the names of the persons used in
the Greek Embassy? Note Verbale seeking clearance were fictitious. The
Greek Ambassador was at pains to explain why the names appearing in the
Note Verbale were different from the persons at the Embassy.

 After intervention with the Greek Ambassador, it was confirmed that Mr.
Ocalan was in the Ambassador? residence. The Government immediately
requested for his expatriation from the Country to which the Greek
Ambassador agreed after consultations with his Minister in Athens. The
Embassy undertook the responsibility to pay for their expatriation
expenses. Consequently, Mr. Ocalan departed the Country yesterday, the
15th of February, 1999, at about 7:30 p.m. local time, for a destination
known to the Greek authorities.

 The Government has established that the Mr. Ocalan arrived in the
Country from Milan, Italy. According to the Greek Ambassador Nationals
from the following Countries accompanied Mr. Ocalan:

 Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium and Greece.

 The entry of Mr. Ocalan into the Country appears to have been well
known the Greek Government. We are puzzled as to why Kenya was chosen as
a destination for Ocalan. It is possible that the Greek authorities may
have taken advantage of the strong friendly relations existing between
our two Countries, which raises serious questions about their sincerity
and trustworthiness.

 The Greek Government must be aware that Kenya was recently a target by
terrorists who bombed the United States Embassy on August 7th , 1999,
causing heavy loss of life and extensive damage to property in Nairobi.
The presence of Mr. Ocalan in the Country, therefore, raises serious
security concerns. We would not have expected a friendly Country like
Greece to subject Kenya to such an awkward situation giving rise to
suspicion and possible attack.

 The Government is, therefore, taking up the matter with the Government
of Greece with a view to ascertaining the full circumstances and reasons
leading to the illegal entry of Mr. Ocalan to Kenya.

 The Greek Ambassador H. E. Mr. George Costorlas was at hand to meet the
group at the J. K. I. A. He briefly boarded the aircraft and left with
passengers without following any of the formalities. No immigration
arrival cards were filled as the passengers were simply walked through.
Initially when the Government got wind of Mr. Ocalan presence in the
Ambassador? residence the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the
Ambassador to explain, but he vehemently denied. However, when he was
confronted yesterday concrete evidence, he owned up, setting into motion
the process of his departure as outlined above.

 In view of the above, it is no longer possible to trust the Ambassador
has serious doubts about his credibility have been created. Accordingly,
the Government had demanded his recall with immediate effect.

 The Government of Kenya wishes to emphasize that the Government had no
role whatsoever to play in Mr. Ocalan presence in Kenya.

16th February, 1999
NAIROBI