Subject: TURKEY / KURDS By DAUD MAJLIS/WASHINGTON From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/21/95 TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-19963 TITLE=TURKEY / KURDS BYLINE=DAUD MAJLIS DATELINE=WASHINGTON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: A RAND CORPORATION EXPERT ON THE MIDDLE EAST, GRAHAM FULLER, SAYS TURKEYS 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 P-K-K. 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 AND ESTABLISH POLITICAL CONTROL. // FULLER ACTUALITY // I THINK IT WAS A MILITARY OPERATION IN PRINCIPLE ANYWAY AGAINST P-K-K. BUT, AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE IRAQI KURDISH ELEMENTS THAT DENY THAT THERE WERE P-K-K 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 P-K-K AND THE IRAQI KURDISH FORCES THAT TURKEY WILL NOT TOLERATE P-K-K'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 P-K-K GUERRILLA ACTIVITIES. DR. FULLER SAID MOST OBSERVERS CHARACTERIZE THE P-K-K AS MARXIST-LENINIST IN ORIENTATION. P-K-K 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 P-K-K. BUT I THINK THE U-S ALSO FEELS AND IT IS QUITE CLEAR THAT THE U-S BELIEVES THAT EVEN IF THE P-K-K 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 // MR. 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. (SIGNED) NEA/DM/CF 21-Mar-95 3:45 PM EST (2045 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------