Senator Carr asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 25 June 1997:

(1) What actions has the Australian Government taken to date in responding to the Turkish military invasion of northern Iraq on 13 May 1997.

(2) What is the attitude of the Australian Government to the invasion of up to 50,000 Turkish troops into northern Iraq.

(3) Has the Minister been advised by the department of the widespread and systemic abuse, by invading Turkish troops, of the human rights of the Kurdish population of northern Iraq.

(4) Is the Minister aware that hostile acts perpetrated by Turkish troops in northern Iraq include repeated shelling of Iraqi towns and villages, the death of civilians and the forced displacement of civilian Kurds living in the area.

(5) When will the Australian Government join the United Nations, the European Union and many other nations in condemning this act of aggression by Turkish military forces.

Senator Hill —The Minister for Foreign Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The Australian Government is aware of the Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq. Our relevant Missions including those in Ankara and at the United Nations, New York, have kept the Government informed of developments. Turkey has acknowledged that as many as 50,000 troops crossed the border in an operation directed against guerrillas of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) which has been waging an insurgency in support of a separate Kurdish State since 1984. Turkish authorities have indicated that most of the forces have been recalled but the operation seems likely to continue for several more weeks at least. The media has not been allowed into operational areas and objective and independent reporting has not been possible. The Turkish operation is being conducted jointly with one of the main Kurdish factions established in northern Iraq—the Kurdistan Democatic Party (KDP).

(2) Australia has taken a consistent position regarding Turkish incursions into northern Iraq, the previous major intervention against the PKK having taken place in March 1995. Because the PKK is a terrorist organisation which is a threat to Turkey's security and has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of people, its actions cannot be condoned. At the same time Australia respects the sovereignty of Iraq and has noted Turkey's claims that it respects the sovereignty of Iraq's territory. Australia has consistently urged Turkey to limit any such operations against the PKK only to what is required to guarantee its security and with respect for human rights and the well-being of the civilian population. The Australian Government expects Turkey to withdraw as quickly as possible.

(3) The Government is aware of the claims, principally by supporters of the PKK, of widespread and systemic abuse. The situation on the ground is not clear, but the Government is not aware of any substantiated evidence to support such claims.

(4) The Turkish ground forces have been backed by artillery, heavy armour and air support. The Turkish General Staff said that it had targeted and successfully attacked a number of identified PKK bases and strongholds, and that as many as three thousand guerillas and PKK supporters had been killed or captured and that others have fled across the border into Iran and Syria.

(5) A number of countries, including Iraq, Iran, Syria, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have criticised the intervention. Iraq lodged a formal protest claiming that Turkey had violated Iraqi sovereignty and called for an immediate withdrawal. Other countries, including the United Kingdom and France, have urged Turkey to keep its actions to within acceptable limits and to respect human rights. The United States has acknowledged Turkey's right to defend itself against a vicious terrorist organisation and accepted Turkish assurances that the operation had a limited scope and that Turkey would withdraw once it had achieved its objectives. UN Secretary General Annan has urged Turkey to withdraw as soon as possible. We understand that most of the Turkish objectives have been achieved and only a small contingent remains in northern Iraq in support of the KDP. Australia supports an early withdrawal by Turkey from Iraq. At the same time, while Australia deplores any actions of the Turkish Government which fall short of internationally accepted standards of human rights and behaviour, it also condemns the actions of organisations, such as the PKK, which have resorted to terrorism and violence to achieve an independent Kurdistan.