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)

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Source: Voice of America

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