ARAB LEAGUE/TURKEY (S ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN/CAIRO
From: yanni@ix.netcom.com (Ioannis Bousnakis)
DATE=7/9/95
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-181669
TITLE=ARAB LEAGUE/TURKEY (S ONLY)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE 22-NATION ARAB LEAGUE HAS ONCE AGAIN CRITICIZED
TURKEY FOR ITS CROSS BORDER OFFENSIVE INTO NORTHERN IRAQ, AIMED
AGAINST TURKISH KURDISH REBEL BASES. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE
KASSMAN HAS MORE FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.
TEXT: THE STATEMENT CALLS THE TURKISH ACTION A CLEAR VIOLATION
OF THE SOVEREIGNTY OF IRAQ AND INTERFERENCE IN ITS INTERNAL
AFFAIRS. THE ARAB LEAGUE PREVIOUSLY CONDEMNED TURKEY'S MILITARY
OPERATION LAST MARCH IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
AT THAT TIME ARAB STATES EXPRESSED UNDERSTANDING WITH TURKEY'S
EFFORTS TO CRUSH THE KURDISH INSURGENCY, BUT THEY DREW THE LINE
AT SUPPORTING TURKEY WHEN IT SENT 35-THOUSAND TROOPS ACROSS THE
BORDER INTO IRAQ.
TURKEY ARGUED THE ACTION WAS JUSTIFIED AS SELF-DEFENSE. TURKEY
HAS LONG COMPLAINED ABOUT THE POWER VACUUM IN NORTHERN IRAQ,
WHICH IT SAYS IS ALLOWING INSURGENT KURDS TO SEEK REFUGE THERE.
IN THE LATEST CROSS-BORDER ACTION, THREE-THOUSAND TROOPS BACKED
BY FIGHTER PLANES AND HELICOPTERS ATTACKED SUSPECTED REBEL BASES
IN NORTHERN IRAQ. U-N OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 700 FAMILIES HAVE
FLED THE COMBAT AREA. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/DW/RAE
09-Jul-95 11:53 AM EDT (1553 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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