Topic: voa Subject: France/Kurds (L-Only) by Sonja Pace From: Yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis) Topic: voa DATE=4/4/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176547 TITLE=FRANCE / KURDS (L-ONLY) BYLINE=SONJA PACE DATELINE=PARIS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS IN FRANCE ARE CALLING ON THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONDEMN TURKEY'S MILITARY INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ. V-O-A'S SONJA PACE IN PARIS REPORTS THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ARE CALLING FOR VARIOUS SANCTIONS AGAINST TURKEY AND FOR A LONG-TERM INTERNATIONAL SOLUTION TO PROTECT THE KURDISH POPULATION OF NORTHERN IRAQ. TEXT: TEN HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS BASED IN PARIS SAY TURKEY'S MILITARY INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW AND BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. THEY ARE CALLING ON THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO CONDEMN THE ACTION. TURKEY SENT 35-THOUSAND TROOPS, BACKED BY TANKS, ARTILLERY AND AIR COVER INTO NORTHERN IRAQ TWO WEEKS AGO TO WIPE OUT BASES OF REBEL KURDS FIGHTING FOR A KURDISH HOMELAND IN TURKEY. THE TURKISH INCURSION HAS DRAWN CRITICISM FROM MANY OF TURKEY'S WESTERN ALLIES WHO FEAR THAT CIVILIANS MAY BE HARMED IN THE MILITARY OPERATION. GERMANY HAS ALREADY SUSPENDED MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO TURKEY IN PROTEST. HOWEVER, THE PARIS-BASED HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SAY THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. THEY ALSO WANT FRANCE TO SUSPEND THE SALE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO TURKEY AND THEY ARE CALLING ON THE EUROPEAN UNION TO RESCIND THE CUSTOMS TREATY WHICH THE E-U RECENTLY SIGNED WITH THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT. THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ARE ALSO APPEALING TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES TO STOP EXPELLING KURDS BACK TO TURKEY. IN A STATEMENT FAXED TO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS IN PARIS, THE GROUPS ARE CALLING ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH A LONG-TERM SOLUTION TO PROTECT ABOUT THREE-MILLION KURDS LIVING IN NORTHERN IRAQ. FOLLOWING THE END OF THE GULF WAR THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL SET UP A SAFE HAVEN IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO PROTECT THE KURDISH POPULATION THERE FROM ATTACKS BY IRAQI GOVERNMENT TROOPS. BUT, THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY THAT DESPITE HUMANITARIAN AID AND WESTERN MILITARY AIR PATROLS, IRAQI KURDS ARE STILL UNDER THREAT. THE SAME HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ISSUED A LONG REPORT IN JANUARY, WARNING OF DETERIORATING CONDITIONS FOR KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ, TURKEY, AND IRAN. AT THAT TIME, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND WIFE OF THE FRENCH PRESIDENT, DANIELLE MITTERRAND, ACCUSED TURKEY OF GENOCIDE AGAINST ITS OWN KURDISH MINORITY. THE REPORT ALSO DOCUMENTED IRANIAN AS WELL AS IRAQI ATTACKS AGAINST KURDS. (SIGNED) NEB/SP/SKH/JWH 04-Apr-95 9:32 AM EDT (1332 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America