PENTAGON / TURKEY (S-ONLY) BY DAVID SWAN/PENTAGON

From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)

DATE=7/6/95

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-181573

TITLE=PENTAGON / TURKEY (S-ONLY)

BYLINE=DAVID SWAN

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS URGING TURKEY TO LIMIT ITS LATEST INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ IN PURSUIT OF KURDISH SEPARATISTS. THE TURKISH ARMY SAYS 57 REBELS HAVE BEEN KILLED SO FAR, WITH NO WORD OF CASUALTIES TO THE TROOPS. V-O-A'S PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS.

TEXT: TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW CRACKDOWN IS TAKING PLACE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER. AN UNKNOWN NUMBER OF SOLDIERS, BACKED BY PLANES AND HELICOPTERS, LAUNCHED THE OFFENSIVE WEDNESDAY AGAINST THE SEPARATIST P-K-K GUERRILLAS, WHO USE THE REGION AS A BASE FOR ATTACKS ON TURKEY.

THE ARMED FORCES CONDUCTED A MUCH LARGER, SIX-WEEK INCURSION IN NORTHERN IRAQ EARLIER THIS YEAR. THAT OPERATION DREW WIDESPREAD INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM. A PENTAGON SPOKESMAN, (NAVY) CAPTAIN MIKE DOUBLEDAY, CALLS ON TURKEY TO KEEP THIS MISSION SHORT -- AND NOT TO HARM CIVILIANS.

                       // DOUBLEDAY ACT //

WE WOULD AGAIN URGE TURKEY TO MAKE MAXIMUM EFFORT TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS. WE WOULD ALSO STRESS THE NEED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE AND DURATION OF THE OPERATION AND TO SAFEGUARD HUMAN RIGHTS.

                          // END ACT //

TURKEY DENIES ALLEGATIONS THE TROOPS HAVE INDISCRIMINATELY SHELLED OR BOMBED SEVERAL VILLAGES. THE MILITARY SAYS THE PLANES ARE STAYING AT LEAST TWO KILOMETERS FROM SETTLEMENTS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/PT

06-Jul-95 2:59 PM EDT (1859 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America