Topic: voa Subject: U-N / TURKEY / IRAQ (S-ONLY) By DOUGLAS ROBERTS/GENEVA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/31/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176401 TITLE=U-N / TURKEY / IRAQ (S-ONLY) BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS DATELINE=GENEVA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-N OFFICIALS SAY THOUSANDS OF IRAQI KURDS HAVE FLED TWO VILLAGES NEAR THE BORDER WITH TURKEY, WHERE TURKISH TROOPS ARE CONTINUING A DRIVE AGAINST SEPARATIST KURDISH GUERRILLAS. AS V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS FROM GENEVA, THE STATEMENT BY THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES HAS HEIGHTENED CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY OF CIVILIANS CAUGHT UP IN THE TURKISH MILITARY OPERATION. TEXT: U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE RECEIVED RELIABLE INFORMATION THAT BETWEEN 15-THOUSAND AND 20-THOUSAND IRAQI KURDS HAVE FLED THE VILLAGES OF KANIMASI AND BARWARI BALA BECAUSE OF THE ONGOING TURKISH MILITARY OPERATION IN NORTHERN IRAQ. THE TWO VILLAGES ARE IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN NORTHEAST OF THE TOWN OF ZAKHO, WITHIN A FEW KILOMETERS OF THE TURKISH BORDER. U-N OFFICIALS SAY IT IS NOT YET CLEAR WHETHER THE REFUGEES WERE FORCED OUT OF THE TWO VILLAGES OR WHETHER THEY LEFT OUT OF FEAR OF TURKISH TROOPS IN THE AREA. THESE OFFICIALS SAY THOSE WHO FLED HAVE FOUND REFUGE WITH FRIENDS AND RELATIVES IN NEARBY VILLAGES, AND FOR THE MOMENT, THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. THE U-N-H-C-R HAS ESCORTED SEVERAL THOUSAND TURKISH KURD REFUGEES OUT OF THE WARZONE DURING THE PAST WEEK TO THE SAFETY OF CAMPS TO THE SOUTH, WELL OUTSIDE THE TURKISH ARMY'S ZONE OF OPERATIONS. KURDISH LEADERS CHARGE THAT TURKISH GOVERNMENT FORCES HAVE ATTACKED AND HARASSED IRAQI AS WELL AS TURKISH KURD CIVILIANS DURING THE 12-DAY-OLD OFFENSIVE IN IRAQ. (SIGNED) NEB/DBR/SKH/JWH 31-Mar-95 1:30 PM EST (1830 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------