Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY / KURDS UPDATE (S) By AL PESSIN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/26/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176088 TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS UPDATE (S) BYLINE=AL PESSIN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: /// ADDS EVACUATION ENDS SAFELY, UNHCR SPOKESMAN COMMENTS /// INTRO: UNITED NATIONS RELIEF WORKERS AND ARMED GUARDS HAVE SAFELY EVACUATED MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND TURKISH KURDS FROM THE BATTLE ZONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THEY TRAVELED WITH AN ARMED U-N ESCORT TO TWO REFUGEE CAMPS SOUTH OF THE AREA WHERE TURKISH FORCES ARE CLEARING OUT SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS OF THE KURDISH WORKERS' PARTY. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM ANKARA. TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE 30-VEHICLE CONVOY PULLED INTO THE REFUGEE CAMPS AT ATRUSH IN MID-AFTERNOON, AFTER A SMOOTH 100-KILOMETER JOURNEY FROM THE BORDER TOWN OF ZAKHO. THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N REFUGEE OFFICE IN GENEVA, RUPERT COLEVILLE, SAYS SOME OF THE 10-THOUSAND TURKISH KURDS ALREADY LIVING AT ATRUSH HELPED THE NEWCOMERS GET SETTLED. THE SPOKESMAN ALSO CONFIRMED REPORTS THAT MOST OF THOSE ACCEPTING THE U-N'S TRANSPORTATION OFFER WERE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. HE SAYS MANY OF THE TURKISH KURDISH MEN ARE AFRAID TO TRAVEL OPENLY, FEARING TURKISH TROOPS MIGHT ACCUSE THEM OF BEING GUERRILLAS. TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER SAYS THE OPERATION WILL NOT RESULT IN A PERMANENT OCCUPATION OF NORTHERN IRAQ, AND THAT THE TROOPS WILL BE WITHDRAWN WHEN THEY HAVE CRUSHED THE TURKISH KURDISH GUERRILLAS WHO OPERATE IN THE REGION. BUT PRESIDENT SULEYMAN DEMEREL SAID THAT WILL TAKE AT LEAST SEVERAL WEEKS, AND COULD TAKE UP TO A YEAR. MR. DEMEREL TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS THE OPERATION IS DESIGNED TO END CROSS-BORDER TERRORISM FROM IRAQ, AND THAT TURKEY HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO LAUNCH IT. (SIGNED) NEB/AWP/BG 26-Mar-95 12:45 PM EST (1745 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------