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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 .