Subject: TURKEY / KURDS (L-ONLY) BY AMBERIN ZAMAN/ANKARA Topic: voa From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis) DATE=4/19/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-177222 TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (L-ONLY) BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A SENIOR TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIAL SAYS TURKEY'S MONTH- OLD INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ IS DRAWING TO AN END. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA, HIS REMARKS COINCIDE WITH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, WHERE SHE WILL MEET WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON LATER TODAY (EDS NOTE: AT ABOUT 14 GMT). INTRO: GENERAL ORHAN YONEY, THE OFFICIAL IN CHARGE OF PLANNING AND OPERATIONS AT THE TURKISH GENERAL STAFF, SAYS THE 35-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS WHO SWEPT INTO NORTHERN IRAQ ON MARCH 20TH HAVE ACCOMPLISHED THEIR MISSION. BUT HE STOPPED SHORT OF ANNOUNCING A WITHDRAWAL DATE FOR THE TURKISH FORCES. HE MADE THE COMMENTS IN AN INTERVIEW WITH THE SEMI-OFFICIAL ANATOLIAN NEWS AGENCY. IT IS THE FIRST TIME A SENIOR TURKISH MILITARY OFFICIAL HAS GONE ON RECORD AS INDICATING THAT THE TURKISH INCURSION MIGHT BE OVER SOON. THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD REPORTS IN THE TURKISH MEDIA, QUOTING UNNAMED MILITARY OFFICIALS, AS SAYING THE TROOP WITHDRAWAL WILL BE COMPLETED BY MID-MAY. GENERAL YONEY SAYS THE MILITARY'S DRIVE AGAINST THE ESTIMATED TWO THOUSAND MEMBERS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K, HAS RESULTED IN THE SEIZURE OF VAST AMOUNTS OF THEIR WEAPONS AND SUPPLIES. WESTERN DIPLOMATS HERE SAY IT APPEARS GENERAL YONEY'S COMMENTS WERE TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER'S MEETING IN WASHINGTON WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON. WHILE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR WHAT IT DESCRIBES AS TURKEY'S LEGITIMATE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, IT HAS ALSO WARNED ANKARA AGAINST AN EXTENDED STAY IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND HAS BEEN PRESSING TURKISH OFFICIALS TO GIVE A DATE FOR THE WITHDRAWAL. MRS. CILLER HAS REFUSED TO SET A TIMETABLE, SAYING TURKISH TROOPS WILL BE PULLED BACK ONLY WHEN THEIR MISSION IN NORTHERN IRAQ HAS BEEN COMPLETED. (SIGNED) NEB/AZ/SKH/MMK 19-Apr-95 8:54 AM EDT (1254 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America