KURDISTAN: BUSH ANNOUNCES 'GREATLY

[Howard Frederick]

Subject: KURDISTAN: BUSH ANNOUNCES 'GREATLY

/* Written  5:55 pm  Apr 19, 1991 by newsdesk in cdp:ips.englibrary */
/* ---------- "KURDISTAN: BUSH ANNOUNCES 'GREATLY " ---------- */
Copyright Inter Press Service 1991, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Area: North America
Reference: Middle East; Population
Title: KURDISTAN: BUSH ANNOUNCES 'GREATLY EXPANDED' RELIEF EFFORT


washington apr 16 (ips) -- u.s. president george bush
announced tuesday ''a greatly expanded'' relief effort by
the united states and its european allies in northern iraq,
in which the u.s. military would immediately set up
''several encampments'' for kurdish refugees.

he said the u.s. deployment into northern iraq will be
taken pursuant to u.n. security council resolution 688
approved 10 days ago to authorise humanitarian assistance
for iraqi refugees and that it was being undertaken for
''humanitarian concerns'' only.

bush did not specify how many u.s. troops will be
engaged in the operation or how long they, french, british,
and turkish forces will ensure security for the camps.

he added that washington expects the iraqi government
not to interfere ''in any way'' with the new operation and
that washington's threats to take action against iraqi
military operations threatening refugees north of the 36th
parallel remain in effect.

but he insisted the new operation represents ''an
interim measure'' only and that washington's long-term
objective is for all iraqi refugees to return home.

''i have said that the united states is not going to
intervene militarily in iraq's internal affairs and risk
being drawn into a vietnam-style quagmire. this remains the
case,'' said bush. ''nor will we become an occupying power
with u.s. troops patrolling the streets of baghdad.''

he also stressed that the administration of and security
for the new encampments should be turned over to the united
nations as soon as possible -- an action which he conceded
may require a new resolution from the security council.

u.n. peacekeeping troops are moving this week into
positions in southern iraq previously occupied by u.s.
troops.

bush admitted that he had not foreseen the size of the
refugee problem before the end of the gulf war feb 28, and
he repeated  his controversial calls for the iraqis ''to
take matters into their own hands and kick (president)
(more)

kurdistan: bush announces 'greatly expanded' relief effort(2-end)

the u.s. leader rejected the notion that ''the united
states should bear guilt because of suggesting that the
iraqi people'' overthrow hussein. he denied there was ever
any implication from washington that it would support them
militarily.

while bush said he believed hussein should be tried for
war crimes, he suggested that the united states would
consider dropping charges ''to get him out'' of iraq.

''we want him out of there so badly...'' he said.

bush said he decided to expand the relief effort after
talking tuesday afternoon with british prime minister john
major, french president francois mitterand, turkish
president turgut ozal, german chancellor helmut kohl, and
u.n. secretary-general javier perez de cuellar.

he indicated that a primary purpose was to persuade
refugees who are currently moving toward turkey and iran to
come down from the mountains that form the border areas,
back into lower and warmer areas inside iraq in order to
facilitate relief efforts.

''we must encourage the kurds to move to areas in
northern iraq where the geography faciliates, rather than
frustrates, such a large-scale relief effort.''

bush's announcement came amid steadily rising criticism
that his administration has not done enough for the kurds
and reports that some 1,000 refugees may be dying each day
from hunger, disease, and exposure.

some two million kurds are believed to have left their
homes to seek refuge in turkey and iran.  relief services
in both countries have reportedly been overwhelmed by the
influx. (ends/ips/ip/jl/yjc)