Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY / KURDS (S) By AL PESSIN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/26/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176077 TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS (S) BYLINE=AL PESSIN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: UNITED NATIONS RELIEF WORKERS AND ARMED GUARDS HAVE EVACUATED MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND TURKISH KURDS FROM THE BATTLE ZONE IN NORTHERN IRAQ, WHERE TURKISH FORCES ARE CLEARING OUT SEPARATIST GUERRILLAS OF THE KURDISH WORKERS' PARTY. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM ANKARA. TEXT: THE 30-VEHICLE CONVOY PULLED OUT OF THE IRAQI BORDER TOWN OF ZAKHO AROUND MID-DAY, LED BY ARMED U-N GUARDS. RELIEF OFFICIALS SAY ABOUT 200 FAMILIES TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OFFER TO MOVE TO A REFUGEE CAMP AT ATRUSH, OUTSIDE THE AREA WHERE TURKISH TROOPS HAVE BEEN OPERATING SINCE LAST MONDAY. TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THEIR FORCES ARE BEING CAREFUL NOT TO BOTHER LOCAL CIVILIANS OR THE KURDISH REFUGEES, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF SOME HARASSMENT AND DISRUPTION OF TRANSPORTATION ROUTES. MEANWHILE, THE TURKISH MILITARY MAINTAINED A STEADY STREAM OF TROOPS AND SUPPLIES MOVING ACROSS THE BORDER. 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TANSU CILLER SAYS THE OPERATION WILL NOT RESULT IN A PERMANENT OCCUPATION OF NORTHERN IRAQ, AND THAT THE TROOPS WILL BE WITHDRAWN WHEN THEY HAVE CRUSHED THE TURKISH KURDISH GUERRILLAS WHO OPERATE IN THE REGION.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/DW/BG 26-Mar-95 9:22 AM EST (1422 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------