DATE=12/17/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243180 TITLE=LATAM / IRAQ (L ONLY) BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: OFFICIAL REACTION IN LATIN AMERICA TO THE U-S-LED ATTACK ON IRAQ, KNOWN AS "OPERATION DESERT FOX", IS MIXED. CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU REPORTS THE MOST CRITICAL COMMENTS ARE FROM CUBA AND MEXICO. TEXT: CUBA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY HAS CONDEMNED THE U-S ATTACK ON IRAQ. IT SAYS THE ACTION TRAMPLES PEACE UNDERFOOT, VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW, AND ENDANGERS THE IRAQI PEOPLE. ACCORDING TO CUBA, THE ATTACKS WILL HAVE THE OPPOSITE EFFECT OF SOLVING THE PROBLEMS WITH IRAQ. MEXICO'S CRITICISM WAS MORE VEILED, REGRETTING IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO SOLVE THE CRISIS DIPLOMATICALLY AND CALLING FOR RESPECT FOR PRINCIPLES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. BY CONTRAST, EL SALVADOR SAYS THE U-S ATTACKS ARE JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OF THE THREAT POSED TO WORLD PEACE BY IRAQ'S DEVELOPMENT OF ITS NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS CAPABILITY. BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA BOTH CALL ON IRAQ FOR FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL COMPLIANCE WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS FOR INSPECTION OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. BRAZIL SAYS IT DEPLORES CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE GIVEN RISE TO THE USE OF FORCE. ARGENTINA SAYS IRAQ, BY COMPLIANCE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS DIRECTIVES, CAN AVOID UNNECESSARY AND UNFORTUNATE SUFFERING BY ITS PEOPLE. FORMER ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER DANTE CAPUTO SPOKE OUT MORE BLUNTLY THAN HIS GOVERNMENT, SAYING U-S ACTION WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS A RETURN TO THE IDEA OF TAKING JUSTICE INTO ONE'S OWN HANDS. MR. CAPUTO CALLED THIS A SERIOUS BLOW TO WORLD ORDER. IN CHILE, FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE MIGUEL INSULZA SAYS HIS GOVERNMENT REGRETS THE USE OF FORCE IN THIS CASE, BUT UNDERSTANDS IT. (SIGNED) NEB/GM/RAE 17-Dec-98 12:52 PM EST (1752 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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