Subject: TURKEY/KURDS by MBERIN ZAMAN/ANKARA
Topic: voa
From: Yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
Topic: voa

DATE=4/8/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-176804
TITLE=TURKEY/KURDS (S ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THREE-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS HAVE 
BEEN PULLED OUT OF NORTHERN IRAQ.  AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM 
ANKARA, THE MOVE COMES AMID MOUNTING WESTERN PRESSURE FOR TURKEY 
TO END ITS MASSIVE INCURSION INTO THE KURDISH- CONTROLLED 
ENCLAVE. 

TEXT:  ABOUT 35-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS MOVED INTO NORTHERN IRAQ 
IN MID-MARCH TO TRACK DOWN REBELS OF THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN 
WORKERS PARTY, OR P-K-K, AND TO DESTROY THEIR MOUNTAIN BASES 
THERE.  

THE MARXIST GROUP HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH 
STATE -- CARVED MAINLY OUT OF TURKEY AND BITS OF IRAQ AND IRAN --
SINCE 1984.   

WESTERN GOVERNMENTS WERE CONCERNED THAT ANKARA WANTED TO SET UP A
PERMANENT BUFFER ZONE IN THE REGION.  AND REPORTS OF CIVILIAN 
CASUALTIES DURING THE TURKISH OPERATION LED TO WESTERN PRESSURE 
ON TURKEY TO PULL OUT ITS TROOPS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  

A FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS THE WITHDRAWAL OF ONE BRIGADE 
SATURDAY SHOWS TURKEY'S INTENTION TO  NOT  REMAIN IN IRAQ FOR 
LONG.  BUT HE STOPPED SHORT OF DESCRIBING THE MOVE AS THE START 
OF AN OVERALL WITHDRAWAL. 

THE MOVE COMES AS TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER ERDAL INONU CONTINUES 
HIS TOUR OF EUROPEAN CAPITALS AND WASHINGTON TO REASSURE TURKEY'S
ALLIES THAT THE OPERATION IS OF LIMITED DURATION AND SCOPE.  
(SIGNED) 

NEB/AZ/MMK

08-Apr-95 12:23 PM EDT (1623 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America