DATE=7/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235563
TITLE=KURDS / U-S / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=AMBERIN ZAMAN
DATELINE=ANKARA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: SENIOR IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS AND U-S DIPLOMATS HAVE
ACCUSED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT OF PROVIDING TRAINING FACILITIES FOR
TURKISH KURD REBELS OF THE KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY -- THE P-K-K.
AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM ANKARA.
TEXT: THE P-K-K REBELS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR SELF RULE IN
SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS. THE UNITED STATES
CALLS THE P-K-K A TERRORIST GROUP. AND TURKEY HAS ACCUSED SYRIA
OF PROVIDING THE GROUP WITH ARMS AND TRAINING.
BOTH U-S OFFICIALS AND IRAQI KURDISH OFFICIALS SAY THE P-K-K IS
NOW BEING BACKED BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AS WELL.
TURKISH OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM THE
IRAQI AUTHORITIES CONCERNING THE ISSUE, BUT DECLINE TO COMMENT
FURTHER.
THE INTERIOR MINISTER OF THE KURDISH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH
IS CONTROLLED BY THE KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, K-D-P, SAYS THE
IRAQI GOVERNMENT IS ALLOWING P-K-K FIGHTERS TO TRAIN AT A CAMP IN
THE MAHMOUR AREA 50 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF THE MAIN IRAQI KURDISH
CITY, ERBIL.
IRAQI GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS DENY THE CHARGES. THEY SAY THE CAMP
WAS FOR ABOUT SIX-THOUSAND TURKISH KURD REFUGEES WHO FLED TURKEY
SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND THAT THEY ARE PROVIDING SHELTER FOR THE
REFUGEES FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS.
THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY PROVIDES EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR THE
REFUGEES IN COOPERATION WITH THE IRAQI RED CRESCENT. U-N
OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE CAMP BEING USED
AS A TRAINING FACILITY FOR THE P-K-K.
BUT THE K-D-P'S INTERIOR MINISTER, FAZIL MIRANI, SAYS HE HAS
STRONG EVIDENCE THAT P-K-K FIGHTERS DO TRAIN AT THE MAHMOUR CAMP.
HE SAYS EVIDENCE INCLUDES CONFESSIONS FROM CAPTURED P-K-K REBELS
WHO SAID THEY HAD RECEIVED TRAINING AND SHELTER AT THE CAMP. MR
MIRANI SAYS HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT'S MOTIVES
IN SUPPORTING THE TURKISH KURD REBELS.
/// MIRANI ACT ///
I ASK THIS QUESTION. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS IRAQI ADVANCE
[ADVANTAGE] TO BE INVOLVED IN THE P-K-K PROBLEM WHICH IS
BOTHERING ITS OWN PEOPLE -- THE KURDS OF IRAQ. AND IT
MIGHT CAUSE A POLITICAL SITUATION [PROBLEM] FOR THEM
WITH TURKEY WITH WHOM THEY ARE HAVING GOOD RELATIONS
RIGHT NOW.
/// END ACT ///
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT -- BY SUPPORTING A
TERRORIST GROUP -- IS MOVING A STEP FURTHER AWAY FROM ENDING
SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY THE UNITED NATIONS AFTER THE GULF WAR. SOME
U-S OFFICIALS BELIEVE IRAQ MAY BE SUPPORTING THE P-K-K AS A WAY
OF EXERTING PRESSURE ON THE K-D-P.
THE ALLEGATIONS OF IRAQI SUPPORT FOR THE TURKISH KURD REBELS
COINCIDE WITH THE VISIT THIS WEEK OF A U-S DELEGATION TO NORTHERN
IRAQ. THE DELEGATION IS LED BY A U-S PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF STATE, DAVID WELCH. IT IS EXPECTED TO REVIVE A
U-S-LED INITIATIVE TO RECONCILE THE TWO MAIN IRAQI KURDISH
FACTIONS.
IRAQI OFFICIALS HAVE CONDEMNED THE U-S MISSION, SAYING ITS REAL
PURPOSE IS TO DISRUPT RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAQI KURDS AND THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/JWH
16-Jul-98 11:10 AM EDT (1510 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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