Subject: U-N/TURKEY/KURDS (S ONLY) By DOUGLAS ROBERTS/GENEVA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/25/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176049 TITLE=U-N/TURKEY/KURDS (S ONLY) BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS DATELINE=GENEVA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: WITH THE TURKISH MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST KURDISH GUERRILLAS IN NORTHERN IRAQ NOW IN ITS SIXTH DAY, THE UNITED NATIONS IS PLANNING TO ESCORT NEARLY TWO THOUSAND KURDISH REFUGEES OUT OF THE WARZONE. BUT AS WE HEAR FROM V-O-A'S DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN GENEVA, U-N OFFICIALS ARE CONTINUING TO VOICE CONCERN FOR ABOUT 18-HUNDRED OTHER REFUGEES WHO REMAIN CUT OFF BY THE FIGHTING. TEXT: THE EVACUATION IS PLANNED FOR SUNDAY -- FROM THE NORTHERN IRAQI TOWN OF ZAKHO, NOW IN TURKISH HANDS -- TO REFUGEE CAMPS AT ATTROUSH, 160 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE BORDER, WELL OUTSIDE THE TURKISH ARMY'S ZONE OF OPERATIONS. RUPERT COLEVILLE, SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, SAID TURKISH COMMANDERS IN ZAKHO HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE EVACUATION PLAN AND HAVE GIVEN THEIR APPROVAL. AS MANY AS FIFTY TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES WILL BE USED TO TRANSPORT THE REFUGEES OUT OF ZAKHO. THE CONVOY WILL BE ESCORTED BY A SMALL CONTINGENT OF U-N GUARDS, STATIONED IN NORTHERN IRAQ FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. AS U-N OFFICIALS PREPARED FOR THE EVACUATION, MR. COLEVILLE VOICED CONTINUING CONCERN FOR ANOTHER EIGHTEEN HUNDRED KURDISH REFUGEES WHO REMAIN TRAPPED IN FIVE VILLAGES EAST OF ZAKHO. MR. COLEVILLE SAID U-N OFFICIALS HAVE TRIED REPEATEDLY TO REACH THE VILLAGES, BUT HAVE BEEN TURNED BACK BY TURKISH MILITARY COMMANDERS. (SIGNED) NEB/DBR/DW/MMK 25-Mar-95 9:07 AM EST (1407 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------