Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY / MILITARY By AMBERIN ZAMAN/ ZAKHO, IRAQ From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=3/28/95 TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT NUMBER=5-20027 TITLE=TURKEY / MILITARY BYLINE= AMBERIN ZAMAN DATELINE= ZAKHO, IRAQ CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: WESTERN AID WORKERS SAY THE TURKISH ATTACKS ON KURDISH BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ IS DISRUPTING KURDISH ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN THE KURDISH-CONTROLLED ENCLAVE IN IRAQ. AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM THE IRAQI TOWN OF ZAKHO NEAR THE TURKISH BORDER. TEXT: WESTERN AID WORKERS SAY THE PRESENCE OF SOME 35-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS IN THE BORDER REGION HAS FORCED THEM TO SHELVE SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS. SIDNEY PETERSSON IS WITH THE QANDIL PROJECT -- A EUROPEAN UNION FUNDED PROGRAM INVOLVED IN WATER SANITATION AND HEALTH CARE PROJECTS FOR IRAQI KURDISH REFUGEES. HE SAYS HIS ORGANIZATION HAD TO MOVE A VACCINATION PROGRAM OUT OF THE ZONE OF TURKISH MILITARY OPERATIONS. // PETERSSON ACT // WE ALSO PLAN TO START TO UP A RECONSTRUCTION IN THE GULLI AREA WHICH NOW HAS A LOT TANKS ON THAT AREA. HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GO BACK SOON SO THAT WE CAN START THE RECONSTRUCTION. BUT TODAY WE DON'T REALLY KNOW. IF THEY DON'T DO IT WE HAVE TO CANCEL THAT PROJECT THAT IS 179 HOUSES AND FREE SCHOOLS AND FREE CLINIC. // END ACT // AID WORKERS SAY THEY HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS FROM IRAQI KURDISH CIVILIANS LIVING IN VILLAGES IN THE MOUNTAINOUS BORDER STRIP WHERE TURKISH TROOPS ARE CONTINUING THEIR HUNT FOR REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY OR P-K-K. THESE INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS THAT IRAQI KURDISH VILLAGES WERE HIT DURING TURKISH AIR ATTACKS DURING THE PAST WEEK. TURKEY DENIES REPORTS OF CIVILIAN CASUALTIES AND TURKISH PRIME MINISTER TANSU CILLER HAS ASSURED WESTERN GOVERNMENTS THAT MAXIMUM CARE IS BEING TAKEN TO PREVENT SUCH CASUALTIES. AID WORKERS SAY IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS THAT TURKISH TROOPS HAVE BEEN DAMAGING IRAQI KURDISH VILLAGE BECAUSE THE TURKISH MILITARY HAS BLOCKED ACCESS TO THE AREAS. // ACT PETERSSON // WE'VE HAD SOME ACCESS TO SOME AREAS. I TRIED TO GET INTO ONE OF THE CITIES CALLED DERKAR BUT THEY REFUSED US PERMISSION TO COME IN. AND THAT IS THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A CLINIC WE ARE OPERATING AND THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW US TO GET IN THERE. // END ACT // CONFIRMATION OF SUCH REPORTS WILL BE EVEN MORE DIFFICULT WESTERN SOURCES HERE SAY NOW THAT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT IS DENYING ACCESS FOR FOREIGN JOURNALISTS WHO WANT TO TRAVEL TO NORTHERN IRAQ FROM TURKEY. ONLY ONE FOREIGN JOURNALIST WHO ALSO HAS TURKISH CITIZENSHIP IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO ENTER NORTHERN IRAQ SINCE SUNDAY. (SIGNED) NEB/AZ/MH/CF 28-Mar-95 12:41 PM EST (1741 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------