DATE=12/26/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-224536 TITLE=IRAQ / TURKEY (L ONLY) BYLINE=JESSICA JONES DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRAQ HAS CRITICIZED TURKEY FOR EXTENDING THE MANDATE OF U-S LED ALLIED FORCES PROTECTING KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ. JESSICA JONES REPORTS IRAQ CALLED THE TURKISH MOVE AN "ACT OF AGGRESSION." TEXT: THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY CARRIED A STATEMENT FROM THE COUNTRY'S FOREIGN MINISTRY (FRIDAY), SAYING IT CONDEMNED THE DECISION OF THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT (THURSDAY) TO EXTEND THE TERM OF "OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH," WHICH ENFORCES A NO-FLY ZONE OVER NORTHERN IRAQ. THE STATEMENT SAID IRAQ HOLDS THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT -- IN ITS WORDS -- "FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS IRRESPONSIBLE POLICY WHICH INFLICTS DANGEROUS DAMAGE ON IRAQ'S SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY." IT SAID THE SIX-MONTH EXTENSION IS "AN ACT OF AGGRESSION BY ITSELF AGAINST IRAQ." THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT HAS EXTENDED THE TERM OF OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH UNTIL THE END OF JUNE. THE MANDATE HAS BEEN RENEWED EVERY SIX MONTHS SINCE THE END OF THE GULF WAR, AND IS AIMED AT PROTECTING KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ FROM THE FORCES OF IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN. IRAQI NEWSPAPERS ALSO CRITICIZED THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT'S DECISION. THE OFFICIAL AL-THAWRA DAILY SAID "TURKEY IS DAMAGING ITS INTERESTS . . . AND TURNING ITS NEIGHBORS FROM FRIENDS TO ENEMIES." IRAQI KURDS MAINTAIN AN AUTONOMOUS STATE IN THE NO-FLY ZONE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH. MORE THAN 45 U-S AND BRITISH PLANES AND ABOUT 14-HUNDRED PERSONNEL ARE PART OF THE OPERATION, WHICH IS BASED AT THE SOUTHERN TURKISH BASE OF INCIRLIK. (SIGNED) NEB/JJ/JWH 26-Dec-97 10:47 AM EST (1547 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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