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)
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Source: Voice of America