Subject: TURKEY-KURDS (S) By AL PESSIN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/25/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176048 TITLE=TURKEY-KURDS (S) BYLINE=AL PESSIN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKEY SAYS ITS INCURSION INTO NORTHERN IRAQ HAS DESTROYED ALL 25 BASES USED BY KURDISH GUERRILLAS TO LAUNCH ATTACKS INTO TURKEY. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS FROM ANKARA ON THE TURKISH ANNOUNCEMENT, WHICH COULD NOT BE INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED. TEXT: THE GENERAL COMMANDING THE SIX-DAY-OLD OPERATION MADE THE CLAIM IN AN INTERVIEW SATURDAY WITH TURKISH TELEVISION. GENERAL HASAN KUNDACI (HAH' SAHN KOON DAHK' CHEE) SAYS THE BASES HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND MANY WEAPONS HAVE BEEN CONFISCATED. IN ADDITION, THE GENERAL'S SPOKESMAN SAID SATURDAY THE TURKISH MILITARY IS PRESSING ITS OFFENSIVE "ON ALL FRONTS," WITH MORE BOMBING RAIDS ON ALLEGED GUERRILLA HIDEOUTS AND CONTINUING PATROLS BY LAND FORCES. MEANWHILE, THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY IS PREPARING TO MOVE AS MANY AS TWO THOUSAND TURKISH KURDISH REFUGEES OUT OF THE PART OF NORTHERN IRAQ WHERE THE TURKISH MILITARY IS OPERATING. TURKISH OFFICIALS HAVE INDICATED THEY ARE PREPARED TO KEEP THEIR FORCES IN THE REGION FOR A LONG TIME, IF THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS BY THE KURDISH SEPARATISTS. BUT THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY SAID FRIDAY A LONG-TERM OCCUPATION WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE, AND HE SAID THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN ASSURED BY THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT THAT THE OPERATION END QUICKLY. TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER IS SCHEDULED TO ADDRESS THE NATION ABOUT THE NORTHERN IRAQ OFFENSIVE SATURDAY EVENING. (SIGNED) NEB/AWP/DW /MMK 25-Mar-95 9:00 AM EST (1400 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------