DATE=12/16/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243116 TITLE=IRAQ / ALBRIGHT (L ONLY) BYLINE=KYLE KING DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT THEY HAVE FOR THEIR POLICY TOWARD IRAQ, DESPITE THE OPPOSITION THAT RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE HAVE EXPRESSED ABOUT THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS. TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE SUPPORT IT HAS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. REACTING TO EXPRESSIONS OF OPPOSITION TO THE U-S AIRSTRIKES BY SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, MS. ALBRIGHT SAID ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREED ON THE NEED FOR IRAQ TO COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS. BUT SHE SAID NONE OF THE CRITICS HAD A BETTER SOLUTION. /// ALBRIGHT ACT 1 /// I THINK THAT BASICALLY THAT THEY HAVE FELT THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN NEEDS TO COMPLY AND THEY HAVE APPROACHED IT FROM A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT THE TRUTH IS THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS AS TO HOW TO MAKE THEM COMPLY. /// END ACT /// THE SECRETARY OF STATE DEFENDED THE DECISION TO LAUNCH MILITARY STRIKES, BY SAYING THE UNITED STATES HAD WORKED HARD FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION. /// ALBRIGHT ACT 2 /// AS THE UNITED STATES' CHIEF DIPLOMAT, I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE EXHAUSTED EVERY DIPLOMATIC APPROACH AND EVERY POSSIBILITY. MONTH AFTER MONTH, WE HAVE GIVEN IRAQ CHANCE AFTER CHANCE, TO MOVE FROM CONFRONTATION TO COOPERATION, AND WE HAVE EXPLORED AND EXHAUSTED EVERY DIPLOMATIC OPTION. WE WILL SEE NOW WHETHER FORCE CAN PERSUADE IRAQ'S MISGUIDED LEADERS TO REVERSE COURSE AND ACCEPT AT LONG LAST THE NEED TO ABIDE BY THE RULE OF LAW AND THE WILL OF THE WORLD. /// END ACT /// SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, MS. ALBRIGHT ALSO EXPRESSED SOME FRUSTRATION THAT OPPOSITION REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE BECOME INCREASINGLY CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT AS HE CARRIES OUT HIS FOREIGN POLICY. /// ALBRIGHT ACT 3 /// I WILL TELL YOU WHAT HAS UPSET ME IS THAT THE RULES THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT WHEN HE IS ABROAD SEEM TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN. I FOUND THAT VERY UNSEEMLY AND UNBECOMING TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, I DO THINK IT WOULD BE VERY NICE IF WE HAD COMPLETE SUPPORT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BUT THAT DOESENT HAPPEN. ! ! /// END ACT /// MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE HAD SPOKEN WITH KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, INCLUDING THE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, JESSIE HELMS. SHE SAYS HIS ONLY CRITICISM OF THE U-S POLICY TOWARD IRAQ WAS THAT MILITARY ACTION HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN EARLIER. (SIGNED) NEB/KBK/WDC/RRM 16-Dec-98 9:12 PM EST (0212 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
