DATE=12/16/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243104 TITLE=IRAQ / DIPLOMACY (L-UPDATE) BYLINE=KYLE KING DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BEFORE THE LATEST ATTACK ON IRAQ BEGAN, THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT SPELLED OUT THE REASONS FOR THE AIRSTRIKES, SAYING THERE WAS NO HOPE OF IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS. STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: AS HE LAID OUT THE REASONS FOR POSSIBLE AIRSTRIKES AGAINST IRAQ, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAID IT APPEARED BAGHDAD HAD NO INTENTION OF ALLOWING U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO DO THEIR WORK. SPEAKING JUST HOURS BEFORE THE AIRSTRIKES BEGAN, MR. RUBIN RECITED A LIST OF IRAQI FAILURES TO COMPLY WITH THE U-N RESOLUTION THAT ENDED THE GULF WAR. // RUBIN ACT 1 // THROUGHOUT THESE MANY LONG YEARS, IRAQ HAS MANAGED TO BLOCK, IMPEDE, DELAY AND FRUSTRATE EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT THAT RESOLUTION, RIGHT DOWN TO TODAY. THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT FOR THIS PATTERN OF OBFUSCATION, OBSTRUCTION AND OUTRIGHT VIOLATION. // END ACT // MR. RUBIN SAYS THE REPORT THAT CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER GAVE TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL TUESDAY GAVE THE UNITED STATES NO REASON TO BELIEVE IRAQ WILL EVER COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS. CITING IRAQ'S LATEST PROMISE TO ALLOW UNIMPEDED ACCESS TO INSPECTORS, HE SAID IRAQ HAD BROKEN A NEW RECORD IN ITS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ITS PROMISES. // RUBIN ACT 2 // WE (THE UNITED STATES) CAN FIND NO GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM THAT THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP, IF LEFT TO ITS OWN DEVISES, WILL SUDDENLY CHANGE COURSE AND OPT FOR COOPERATION IN THE NEW YEAR OF IF IT REMAINS IN POWER IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM. ON THE CONTRARY, THE LATEST REPORT FROM CHAIRMAN BUTLER GIVES THE CLEAREST POSSIBLE INDICATION THAT IRAQ'S COOPERATION WILL AT BEST BE LIMITED, SELECTIVE AND INTERMITTENT. AND THIS IS SIMPLY NOT GOOD ENOUGH. // END ACT // BEFORE THE AIRSTRIKES BEGAN, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SPOKE BY TELEPHONE WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF SEVERAL COUNTRIES THAT NOW SIT ON THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. BUT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS MOST COUNTRIES AGREE IRAQ IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LATEST CRISIS, AND HE SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS THE AUTHORITY TO U-S FORCE UNDER EXISTING RESOLUTIONS. // RUBIN ACT 3 // AND IT IS CLEAR TO US THAT THROUGH THIS PATTERN OF VIOLATIONS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION 687, IRAQ IS IN FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THAT RESOLUTION AND THEREFORE THE AUTHORITY TO USE MILITARY FORCE EXISTS IN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. // END ACT // FACED WITH IRAQ'S FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID IT SAW NO NEED FOR FURTHER DIPLOMACY OR WARNINGS. ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER, THE AIRSTRIKES BEGAN. (SIGNED) NEB/KBK/RRM 16-Dec-98 5:30 PM EST (2230 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
