Topic: voa
Subject: U-N / TURKEY /IRAQ (S ONLY) by DOUGLAS ROBERTS/GENEVA
From: Yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
 
Topic: voa

DATE=4/4/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-176557
TITLE=U-N / TURKEY  /IRAQ (S ONLY) 
BYLINE= DOUGLAS ROBERTS 
DATELINE= GENEVA 
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-N OFFICIALS ARE VOICING RENEWED CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY 
OF A LARGE GROUP OF KURDISH REFUGEES IN NORTHERN IRAQ.  TURKISH 
MEDIA REPORTS SAY KURDISH GUERRILLAS ARE OPERATING IN TWO U-N RUN
REFUGEE CAMPS NEAR THE IRAQI VILLAGE OF ATTROUSH.  V-O-A'S 
DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA REPORTS OFFICIALS OF THE U-N HIGH 
COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ARE DENYING THE REPORTS WHICH THEY FEAR
COULD BE A PRELUDE TO A TURKISH ATTACK AGAINST THE CAMPS.  

TEXT:  THERE ARE ABOUT 13-THOUSAND KURDISH REFUGEES AT THE  
ATTROUSH CAMPS.  MANY WERE ESCORTED THERE BY THE U-N FROM TOWNS 
AND VILLAGES FARTHER NORTH, AFTER TURKISH TROOPS LAUNCHED THEIR 
OFFENSIVE INTO IRAQ LAST MONTH.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED REPEATED 
ASSURANCES THAT THE CAMPS WILL  NOT  BE ATTACKED UNLESS THEY ARE 
USED AS SPRINGBOARDS FOR RAIDS BY GUERRILLAS OF THE OUTLAWED 
KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY.

BUT THAT IS PRECISELY THE ALLEGATION APPEARING IN TURKISH MEDIA 
REPORTS.  U-N-H-C-R SPOKESMAN RON REDMOND CALLS THE REPORTS 
UNSUBSTANTIATED.

                      ///  REDMOND ACT  ///

         U-N-H-C-R CONSIDERS THE ALLEGATIONS NOT ONLY TO BE 
         UNWARRANTED, BUT  TO CONSTITUTE A THREAT TO THE SAFETY 
         OF CIVILIAN REFUGEES IN THESE  CAMPS.  PEOPLE WHO WANT 
         TO TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES INCOMPATIBLE WITH THEIR 
         REFUGEE STATUS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THESE CAMPS.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. REDMOND SAYS U-N OFFICIALS MONITOR THE TWO CAMPS AT ALL 
TIMES, AND THERE HAVE BEEN  NO  INDICATIONS OF ANY UNAUTHORIZED 
ACTIVITY.

ANOTHER U-N OFFICIAL SAYS THE MEDIA REPORTS COULD BE AN ATTEMPT 
TO PREPARE THE TURKISH PUBLIC FOR AN ATTACK AGAINST THE CAMPS.  
AND WITH TURKISH TROOPS ONLY 20 KILOMETERS AWAY, HE ADDS, THE 
SITUATION IS POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DBR/MH/JWH

04-Apr-95 12:22 PM EDT (1622 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America