Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY / KURDS (L) [2] By AL PESSIN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/26/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176089 TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L) BYLINE=AL PESSIN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: ///CONTAINS EXCLUSIVE A-P MATERIAL/// 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 THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEMS THE CONVOY FACED MOVING OUT OF THE BATTLE ZONE WERE A FEW FLAT TIRES AND VEHICLE BREAKDOWNS. MR. 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. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS INFORMED TURKEY THAT EVEN REFUGEES WHO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE GUERRILLAS ARE PROTECTED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND TURKEY HAS PROMISED NOT TO BOTHER THE REFUGEES OR OTHER CIVILIANS. BUT THERE ARE REPORTS THAT TURKISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN IRAQ HAVE KILLED AND INJURED SOME VILLAGERS, AND HAVE DISRUPTED THE MOVEMENT OF RELIEF SUPPLIES AND COMMERCIAL FOOD SHIPMENTS. 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TANSU CILLER SAYS THE OPERATION WILL NOT RESULT IN A PERMANENT OCCUPATION OF NORTHERN IRAQ, AND THAT THE TROOPS WILL BE WITHDRAWN WHEN THEY HAVE CRUSHED THE TURKISH KURDISH GUERRILLAS WHO OPERATE IN THE REGION.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. ///REST OPT/// TURKEY WANTS WESTERN COUNTRIES TO HELP SET UP A PERMANENT MECHANISM TO PREVENT THE GUERRILLAS FROM REGROUPING IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE REGION HAS BEEN CONTROLLED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AND A COUNCIL OF IRAQI KURDS SINCE THE GULF WAR. TURKEY SAYS IN THAT SITUATION NORTHERN IRAQ BECAME A SAFE HAVEN FOR THE MARXIST GUERRILLAS OF THE KURDISH WORKERS PARTY, WHO USED THE AREA TO LAUNCH ATTACKS INSIDE TURKEY. (SIGNED) NEB/AWP/BG 26-Mar-95 12:58 PM EST (1758 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------