Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY/AID (S ONLY) By AMBERIN ZAMAN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=4/2/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176459 TITLE=TURKEY/AID (S ONLY) BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKEY HAS SENT A FOOD CONVOY TO NORTHERN IRAQI CIVILIANS AS PART OF A 12-MILLION-DOLLAR AID PROGRAM FOR THE KURDISH-CONTROLLED ENCLAVE. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, THE MOVE COINCIDES WITH MOUNTING INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE FOR TURKISH TROOPS TO END THEIR TWO-WEEK-OLD INCURSION IN NORTHERN IRAQ. TEXT: TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT 700 TONS OF FOOD DESTINED FOR IRAQI KURDISH CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN DESPATCHED IN TRUCKS AS PART OF A 12-MILLION-DOLLAR RELIEF PROGRAMM FOR NORTHERN IRAQ. THE OFFICIALS SAY TURKEY HAS PLEDGED A TOTAL OF NINE THOUSAND TONSOF FOOD AND 10 MEGAWATTS DAILY OF ELECTRICITY TO THE REGION, WHICH SUFFERS BY A DOUBLE ECONOMIC EMBARGO -- ONE IMPOSED BY THE UNITED NATIONS OVER IRAQ AS A WHOLE AND A SECOND ORDERED BY BAGHDAD IN 1992, WHEN THE KURDS OF NORTHERN IRAQ DECLARED THEIR OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THAT THE AID IS NOT LINKED IN ANY WAY WITH TURKEY'S ONGOING MILITARY OFFENSIVE AGAINST KURDISH SEPARATIST REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, BUT IS MERELY THE CONTINUATION OF AN ONGOING RELIEF PROGRAM. TURKISH DEPUTY HIKMET CETIN TOLD REPORTERS ON SUNDAY THAT TURKEY WAS ONE OF THE IRAQI KURDS' CHIEF DONORS AND THAT ALLEGATIONS THAT TURKISH TROOPS HAD HARMED CIVILIANS DURING THEIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K, WERE COMPLETELY UNJUSTIFIED. (SIGNED) NEB/AZ/DW/BG 02-Apr-95 2:25 PM EDT (1825 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------