Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY/MILITARY(L-ONLY) By AMBERIN ZAMAN/SALAHUDDIN, NORTHERN IRAQ From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/27/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176116 TITLE=TURKEY/MILITARY(L-ONLY) BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN DATELINE=SALAHUDDIN, NORTHERN IRAQ CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRAQI OPPOSITION LEADERS HAVE CALLED ON TURKEY TO WITHDRAW AN ESTIMATED 35-THOUSAND TROOPS FROM NORTHERN IRAQ. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM THE IRAQI OPPOSITION HEADQUARTERS IN SALAHUDDIN NORTHERN IRAQ. TEXT: TURKEY'S LARGE OFFENSIVE AGAINST SEPARATIST REBEL BASES ALONG THE TURKISH IRAQI BORDER HAS PROMPTED A FLURRY OF CONDEMNATIONS FROM ABROAD AS WELL AS FROM THE MAIN IRAQI OPPOSITION PARTIES. MEMBERS OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS, OR I-N-C, HAVE CALLED ON THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW ITS TROOPS FROM NORTHERN IRAQ, CALLING THEIR PRESENCE AN ACT OF AGGRESSION. THE I-N-C IS THE UMBRELLA GROUP FOR THE MAIN IRAQI OPPOSITION PARTIES AND COORDINATES ITS CAMPAIGN AGAINST SADDAM HUSSAIN FROM THE SMALL MOUNTAIN RESORT OF SALAHUDDIN ABOUT 300 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE TURKISH BORDER. BAHRUL ULOOM IS A LEADING SHIITE OPPOSITION LEADER AND A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE I-N-C. // ULOOM ACT IN TURKEY, FADING UNDER // MR. ULOOM SAYS HE BELIEVES THE TURKISH INCURSION -- WHICH HE CALLS AN INVASION -- HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT WITH THE FULL COOPERATION OF THE BAGHDAD REGIME. HE FURTHER NOTED THAT IT CAME AT A TIME WHEN TURKEY WAS MEDIATING BETWEEN IRAQI KURDISH LEADERS AND SADDAM HUSSEIN. LIKE MANY IRAQI OPPOSITION LEADERS, MR. ULOOM SAYS HE IS CONVINCED THAT THE OFFENSIVE IS INTENDED IN PART TO WEAKEN THE I-N-C'S CAMPAIGN TO UNSEAT THE IRAQI PRESIDENT. HE ADDS THAT IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT ANKARA HAD MOVED ITS TROOPS INTO NORTHERN IRAQ AT A TIME WHEN I-N-C FORCES HAD STEPPED UP THEIR ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQI FORCES. AHMAD CHALABI, WHO IS THE EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT OF THE ANTI- SADDAM COALITION, TOLD V-O-A THE I-N-C'S EFFORTS ARE BEGINNING TO BEAR FRUIT. // CHALABI ACT // THE SITUATION OF SADDAM HAS DETERIORATED CONSIDERABLY IN THE PAST MONTH LARGELY DUE TO THE CHALLENGE THAT WE ARE MAKING NOW. THE IRAQI CURRENCY HAS DETERIORATED BY ABOUT 50 PERCENT IT IS NOW CLOSE TO 17-HUNDRED DINARS TO THE DOLLAR. THIS IS A TERRIBLE SITUATION FOR THE ORDINARY PEOPLE OF BAGHDAD AND THE REST OF IRAQ BECAUSE THIS MEANS THE AVERAGE SALARY OF A SERVING OFFICER IN THE IRAQI ARMY IS LESS THAN FOUR DOLLARS A MONTH. // END ACT // TURKEY, A KEY ALLY IN THE US-LED COALITION AGAINST BAGHDAD DURING THE 1990 GULF WAR, IS NOW CALLING FOR THE LIFTING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. ANKARA IS ANXIOUS TO SEE THE BAGHDAD REGIME RESUME ITS AUTHORITY OVER NORTHERN IRAQ, WHICH HAS REMAINED UNDER IRAQI KURDISH CONTROL. AND IT HAS SNUBBED I-N-C ATTEMPTS TO ESTABLISH RELATIONS. // OPT // THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT SAYS THE AUTHORITY VACUUM IN NORTHERN IRAQ HAS CREATED A FERTILE BREEDING GROUND FOR REBELS OF THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY, OR P-K-K. THE MARXIST GROUP HAS BEEN USING ITS MOUNTAIN BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO LAUNCH CROSS BORDER ATTACKS AGAINST TURKISH MILITARY TARGETS AND TO RAID KURDISH VILLAGES THAT ARE SIDING WITH THE GOVERNMENT. // OPT // ANKARA'S MILITARY CAMPAIGN INVOLVING ABOUT 35- TROOPS IS AIMED AT ELIMINATING THE P-K-K PRESENCE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. ANKARA DENIES THAT THE OPERATION HAS ANY OTHER PURPOSE. PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER SAYS TURKISH TROOPS WILL WITHRDRAW AS SOON AS THE REBELS ARE DEFEATED. (SIGNED) NEB/AZ/MH/GPT 27-Mar-95 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------