VOA: Turkey/Kurds 3

[root at newsdesk.aps.nl]

From: newsdesk at newsdesk.aps.nl (Newsdesk Amsterdam)
Subject: Re: VOA: Turkey/Kurds 3
Reply-To: root at newsdesk.aps.nl

------ Forwarded from : Haldun Haznedar <haldun at avalanche.micro.ti.com> --------

date=3/21/95
byline= Daud Majlis

Intro: A Rand Corporation expert on the Middle East, Graham
Fuller, says Turkey's armed sweep into the northern Iraqi
territories is a manifestation of Turkish anxieties about a
separatist movement. The Rand Corporation is a private research
institute. Mr. Fuller says Turkey has been uneasy about the
existence of the Kurdish autonomous region of Kurdistan because
it is seen as an encouragement for separatists inside Turkey.
Many of these separatists are members of the outlawed Kurdistan
Worker's Party, or PKK. From Washington, VOA's Daud Majlis
reports.

Text: Dr. Graham Fuller described the present push by about 35
thousand Turkish troops into northern Iraq as an incursion and
not an invasion. He makes that distinction because he sees an
invasion as an intent to occupy the territory and to
establish political control.

                     // Fuller actuality //

         I think it was a military operation in principle anyway
         against PKK. But, as you know, there are Iraqi
         Kurdish elements that deny that there were PKK forces
         in that region. I cannot judge that but I don't think
         it was designed to be an invasion in that sense. But it
         was a very serious incursion with one of the largest
         military force that Turkey ever employed against that
         region (northern Iraq).

                       // end actuality //

Dr. Fuller said he thought the Turkish deployment warns the PKK
and the Iraqi Kurdish forces that Turkey will not tolerate
PKK's presence although Turkey has no desire to take over the
region.

The Rand Corporation expert said the United States is sympathic
toward Turkey's desire to end PKK guerrilla activities. Dr.
Fuller said most observers characterize the PKK as
marxist-leninist in orientation. PKK guerrillas have been
condemned for violence, including the killings of their own
Kurdish people.

                     // Fuller actuality //

         So  no  one, I think, particularly supports or admires
         the PKK. But I think the US also feels and it is
         quite clear that the US believes that even if the PKK
         guerrilla problem is solved there still remains a very
         distinct political problem with the Kurdish unhappiness
         inside Turkey. And that unhappiness cannot be settled
         by military solution. It must be treated by political
         means.

                       // end actuality //

Dr. Fuller said the Turkish incursion is not necessarily
unacceptable under international law. He said northern Iraq has
not been operating under normal international law and foreign
military and civilian forces -- British, French, American, and
Turkish -- are deployed there to protect Kurds from aggression by
Saddam Hussein.

The Rand Corporation expert also noted that a protected
"No-fly-zone" is applicable to Iraqi aircraft only. The zone was
designed to prevent Iraqi attacks. He said American, Turkish and
other flights are allowed in the zone which he described as
outside the normal law of sovereignty.

21-Mar-95 3:45 pm EST (2045 utc)

Source: Voice of America

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