Topic: voa Subject: TURKEY/MISSION (S ONLY) By AMBERIN ZAMAN/ANKARA From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" DATE=4/2/95 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-176460 TITLE=TURKEY/MISSION (S ONLY) BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN DATELINE=ANKARA CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS EMBARKED ON A TOUR OF EUROPEAN CAPITALS AND WASHINGTON TO JUSTIFY TURKEY'S MILITARY CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN IRAQ AMID. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA HIS TOUR COMES AMID INCREASINGLY STRIDENT CALLS FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF TURKISH TROOPS FROM THE WESTERN PROTECTED KURDISH ENCLAVE IN NORTHERN IRAQ. TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTER ERDAL INONU'S FIRST STOP WILL BE GERMANY, WHICH HAS LED THE BARRAGE OF CRITICISM OVER TURKEY'S CROSS BORDER OFFENSIVE AGAINST REBELS OF THE SEPARATIST KURDISTAN WORKERS' PARTY OR P-K-K. GERMANY SUSPENDED A MILITARY GRANT WORTH 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO PROTEST THE INCURSION, DESCRIBED BY TURKISH OFFICIALS AS THE GREATEST TURKISH MILITARY OFFENSIVE IN RECENT TIMES, AND IS THREATENING TO CUT MILITARY AID ALTOGETHER SHOULD TURKEY FAIL TO PULL OUT ITS TROOPS SOON. TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY MR INONU'S MISSION IS TO EASE FEARS OVER AN EXTENDED STAY AND TO REASSURE ITS ALLIES THAT CIVILIANS ARE NOT BEING HARMED. MEANWHILE ABOUT 35-THOUSAND TURKISH TROOPS ARE CONTINUING THEIR HUNT FOR PKK REBELS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. MILITARY OFFICIALS SAY THE REBELS ARE TRYING TO BLEND IN WITH THE LOCAL POPULATION IN AN ATTEMPT TO EVADE TURKISH TROOPS. THE MARXIST REBELS WHO HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR AN INDEPENDENT KURDISH STATE SINCE 1984 FREQUENTLY USE THEIR MOUNTAIN BASES IN NORTHERN IRAQ TO LAUNCH CROSS BORDER ATTACKS AGAINST TURKISH MILITARY TARGETS. (SIGNED) NEB/AZ/DW/LWM 02-Apr-95 3:16 PM EDT (1916 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America ------------------------------------------------------------------------------