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USIA - Text: State Dept. Announcement on Operation Provide Comfort, 96-12-25
From: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>
TEXT: STATE DEPT. ANNOUNCEMENT ON OPERATION PROVIDE COMFORT
(Turkey agrees to extend Coalition Air Ops over N.Iraq) (270)
Washington -- Turkey announced December 25 that it will extend Coalition
Air Operations over northern Iraq beginning January 1, the State Department
said December 25.
In a written statement, the State Department said that coalition aircraft
have been flying these operations since 1991 under "Operation Provide
Comfort," but the designation "Provide Comfort" is being dropped because of
changes in its mission due to the closing of the Military Command Center in
Zakho and the shift of humanitarian assistance in the north under United
Nations Security Council Resolution 986 to international organizations.
Following is the State Department text:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESMAN
DECEMBER 25, 1996
STATEMENT BY JOHN DINGER, SPOKESMAN
EXTENSION OF COALITION AIR OPERATIONS OVER NORTHERN IRAQ
The United States welcomes Turkey's December 25 announcement that it will
extend Coalition Air Operations over northern Iraq beginning January 1.
Coalition aircraft will continue to fly these operations as they have since
1991 in the framework of Operation Provide Comfort. Because of changes in
its mission as a result of the closing last fall of the Military Command
Center in Zakho and the shift of humanitarian assistance in the north under
UNSCR 986 to international organizations, the designation "Provide Comfort"
will no longer will be used.
Operation Provide Comfort has made an important contribution to the well
being of the people of northern Iraq and to the peace and stability of the
region. The ongoing air operation underscores the firm commitment of
coalition partners to bringing about Iraq's full compliance with all its UN
obligations.
(end text)
From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.gov
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