Subject: TURKEY/IRAQ (S) By PEYMAN PEJMAN/CAIRO From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/23/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-175939 TITLE= TURKEY/IRAQ (S) BYLINE= PEYMAN PEJMAN DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKEY'S MILITARY ASSAULT AGAINST KURDISH GUERRILLA BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ IS IN ITS FOURTH DAY, BUT THE ANKARA GOVERNMENT IS COMING UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO END THE OPERATION. PEYMAN PEJMAN REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO. TEXT: TURKISH ARMED FORCES ARE CONTINUING TO HIT SUSPECTED KURDISH REBELS WITH A GROUND OFFENSIVE AND AIR STRIKES DEEP INTO NORTHERN IRAQ. TURKISH ARMY OFFICIALS SAY THEIR TROOPS ARE CLOSING IN ON THE GUERRILLAS' BASES. FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE OPERATION STARTED ON MONDAY, THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT HAS PROTESTED THE MILITARY INCURSION. ABOUT 35-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS, BACKED BY TANKS AND JET FIGHTERS, ARE BEING USED IN THE OFFENSIVE, AND HAVE PUSHED AT LEAST 40 KILOMETERS INSIDE IRAQI TERRITORY. TURKEY ARGUES THAT ITS CAMPAIGN IS DIRECTED SOLELY AGAINST THE ESTIMATED THREE-THOUSAND MEMBERS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY, ALSO KNOWN AS THE P-K-K. BUT ANKARA IS COMING UNDER INCREASING CRITICISM BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED OVER POSSIBLE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. THE EUROPEAN UNION'S PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE PRESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO RAISE THE ISSUE IN TALKS WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT. GERMANY, BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE ASKED TURKEY TO LIMIT ITS MILITARY OPERATION AND TO RESPECT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF KURDISH REFUGEES LIVING IN THE REGION. (SIGNED) NEB/PP/SKH/MMK 23-Mar-95 7:11 AM EST (1211 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------