TAHA RAMADAN PRESS CONFERENCE Ramadan's Baghdad News Conference Doha Qatar al-Jazirah Space Channel Television in Arabic 1640 GMT 19 Dec 98 [News conference by Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan with Arab and foreign correspondents in Baghdad--live] [FBIS Translated Text] [Ramadan] In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate. Ladies and gentleman, brothers and sisters: At the beginning, I would like to welcome you and wish you all a blessed Ramadan. May the Arab and Islamic nation have many happy returns on the occasion, and may victory be the lot of the nation with the support of God. My meeting with you today, which is the fourth day of the latest sinful US-British military aggression against our struggling country, the living part of the Arab and Islamic nation at this critical and crucial stage of the history of humanity. This is not the first aggression. The aggression has been under way not for four days only, but rather for nine years, with all military, economic, and political forms and through overt and covert conspiracies. I will discuss the excuses and specific targets of this aggression as outlined by the leaders of the aggression in the United States and Britain. For four consecutive days, the leaders of the two aggressive countries said that they decided to strike Iraq because it failed to cooperate with the UN Special Commission [UNSCOM] and that the aim of their aggression is to curb Iraq's capabilities in terms of the production of weapons of mass destruction. They say this after eight years of inspection--we are now in the ninth year of inspection. They say that they do not seek to topple the regime, although they announced this a few weeks ago through the world's biggest liar in the world; namely, Clinton. In his well-known speech, he frankly said that the blockade will not be lifted from Iraq and that it will continue until the regime is toppled. He said that he decided to support the so-called opposition, who are actually agents in the hotels of Washington and New York. He said that they will try to do their best to spare the civilians. They said that they wanted the aggression to take place before blessed Ramadan. The licentious, who did not respect the honor of his family or the reputation of his people, wants to respect the feelings of Muslims toward the month of Ramadan. I would say that what happened over the past four days was that the number of the civilians who were martyred or injured--today, I will not give figures of the military or civilians who were injured or martyred--was far greater than that in the military. This exposes their statements. We found out that the hospitals, communication networks, and houses were targeted. A dormitory of an institute in a subdistrict in al-Ta'mim Governorate was targeted last night. More than 12 students who were sleeping in the dormitory were martyred and many others were injured. Civilian factories, a rice warehouse, and water pipes were targeted. This means that the number of civilian martyrs is far more than that in the military. They said they seek to degrade Iraq's ability to produce weapons of mass destruction. The world knows, and all fair-minded people--who are outside the circle of conspiracy--know the truth. I reiterate today that this issue was finished with the end of 1991 and the beginning of 1992. Let them ask the cliques of spies, Butler's cliques who are called the UNSCOM: Have they managed to get anything within the context of their mission, including any document or any missiles or piece of equipment related to disarmament other than what the Iraqi side presented for more than eight years? In the ninth year, they say that Iraq is obstructing the work of UNSCOM. Well, if Iraq had been obstructing its work, then how did it operate throughout these years--hundreds of thousands of visits and sites. Look even at the nature of the targets. How can we explain hitting a factory that has been inspected several times and has been placed under monitoring and that has monitoring equipment. What is the value of inspections and monitoring then? All reports said that the monitoring had been proceeding well and there were no violations at all by any plant, and this is attested to by the electronic monitoring equipment at these sites. Some plants were hit, even though they have monitoring equipment. Other plants were hit, although they had been inspected dozens of times. These plants are ordinary and have no equipment related to weapons of mass destruction. These plants were destroyed. What is the relationship between this aggression and degrading Iraq's capabilities? Are Iraq's capabilities present in the plants that are under monitoring? Are Iraq's capabilities present in the plants that were inspected, even in the last visit a week ago when they were here. These plants have nothing that is related to degrading Iraq's capabilities. Does the striking of power stations, a cereals warehouse, or a dormitory have anything to do with Iraq's capability to produce weapons? We know what they are talking about. They mean exactly the opposite of this. From the first day, the aggression has focused on separating the governorates of the south from the center and the north by severing links, all links--radio, television, and ordinary and axial. The aircraft of aggression dropped leaflets to the population in these governorates. The liar Clinton says that they do not target [the regime]. However, I assure him, all liars, agents, and the traitors controlling some parts of the Arab nation that the Iraqi people today are more determined and loyal to the leadership and leader symbol Saddam Husayn. I say with full confidence: If, in previous years, and due to difficult and complicated conditions and the vicious US-European media machine of disinformation, some of our simple citizens did not understand the nature of aggression and conspiracy clearly, this time--and we are on the fourth day of aggression--everybody fully understood the situation. If we are to thank anyone, we should thank the aggressors for enabling all our people to find out the truth. This includes all our people, in all their segments and educational levels. They understood the nature and purposes of this aggression. Therefore, the resistance of our people will be far greater than that during the past eight years, God willing. Today, the issue that is being raised is the US-British aggression, which has been under way for four days. At least two permanent members of the Security Council have directly and frankly said that this aggression is a violation of the UN Charter and all resolutions, particularly Resolution 1205, which was issued by the Security Council a few days ago. Therefore, the United States and Britain are fully responsible for the aggression and the results of the aggression and for the material and human losses. They bear the full criminal, legal, material responsibility in this regard. This is something that cannot be ceded. This is a flagrant aggression that is not based on any legitimacy or law. All the good ones and those who are outside the circle of conspiracy have said that this is an aggression. Two permanent Security Council members have frankly said that this is an aggression. This has a clear meaning. The problem today is not that of Butler or the spies of UNSCOM or monitoring. Iraq has confirmed that it has no weapons of mass destruction. We asked that a certain agency come and verify this. However, the United States refused to do so. This has been the case since the end of 1991. How do you interpret the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] presented a report in the same period, stating that cooperation was full and that there was no problem? Spy Butler presented a report in which he said that there was no cooperation. The United States and Britain claim that this report is the groundwork of the aggression. We know, and I say to you today, that more than 80 percent of the visits of sites were made jointly by members of the IAEA and UNSCOM. How can the members of a same group make contradictory statements? One side says that there was full cooperation, while the other side says that there was no cooperation. Based on clear information, we know that Butler presented his report two days after the presentation of the IAEA's report after he was told by liar Clinton, who was in the occupied territories, to delay his report until Clinton arrives in New York. He was instructed to prepare his report in this way. This was referred to, in a bit different way, in the Russian statements. In his latest visit to Moscow, he [Butler] spoke about the nature and size of the report, which falls in more than 240 pages with a 40-page summary. Russia, which is a permanent member of the Security Council, was surprised when it found out that the report consisted of 10 pages and contained things that have nothing to do whatsoever with what he said in Moscow. The same applies to China. Therefore, we saw that the two representatives said that this report was especially prepared to create this crisis and that this is an indecent action on the part of Butler. So, when representatives at the Security Council describe his action as indecent, then we must understand the depth and form of the conspiracy and the nature of planning for this aggression. We all know that during the past eight years, these two members--whom we respect--did not go this far with regard to the behavior of UNSCOM and the reports it prepares. This aggression was planned. It has nothing to do with cooperation or lack of it. UNSCOM's mission in Iraq has been completed a long time ago. However, its mission remained to find covers for those who want to conceal their defects by saying that Iraq should cooperate. This was achieved by the report that he presented and that was not discussed at the Security Council. The aggression started after the United States and Britain received this report. In this context, I say to everyone of you that Iraq will continue to defend its land, sovereignty, and dignity. We will not be fooled by statements by people who are known to be professional liars and prevaricators that they respect the month of Ramadan. Regrettably, some Muslims and Arabs have been circulating such statements to delude themselves into believing that they are allies with people who have some values and appreciation for their sensitivities and beliefs. We say that the subject now is continued confrontation and defense. The US and British sides have to bear full responsibility for this aggression. This aspect must be addressed with full seriousness. The same applies to the blockade, which has lasted for too long and which is now behind us. On this occasion, I have something to say to all Arabs and Muslims who said they regret the aggression and to those who held Butler solely responsible for the aggression. This is as though Butler -- this little agent -- has acted on his own to present this report for aggression and has not received instructions. However, to avoid disturbing the big beloved one -- America -- they took its stand seriously. I tell the Arab parliaments Don't you feel ashamed at all? I have all respect for many of them, with whom I met. I heard many of their words, which reflect patriotism and pan-Arabism and denunciation all the crimes of arrogance and imperialism. It is a shame that the Duma preceded them in meeting and unanimously demanding that the blockade be unilaterally broken. Yet, we have not heard a word from Arab parliaments. I am not demanding anything from them. We are not demanding anything from any Arab government or Arab ruler. We are not telling them what to do. It is enough pride for us, the Iraqi people, and the masses of the nation that we are confronting this aggression in defense of dignity, sovereignty, principles, morals, and all human values. However, it pains us to see such models amid this great and ancient nation. While the bombs are falling on the Iraqi people, rulers are still issuing orders to police and security to prevent demonstrators from saying a word or a slogan or to express sadness for their brothers in Iraq. What kind of officials are those and what level of lowliness, defeatism, cowardice, subservience, and love for slavery has obsessed them for fear of death or losing their seats. Therefore, they do not care if they see their brothers-- if they are truly their brothers -- being killed in this way. The entire world has said that it is an odious crime and a treacherous aggression by people who are strangers to us, and we are strangers to them. It is painful to find such models among the Arabs. I say this perhaps in an undiplomatic manner, but I understand diplomacy, logic, and reality is to tell the truth, nothing else. I do not understand realism to mean that we can lie and we can misrepresent facts. To be civilized does not mean that you can call that liar an honest person or that you can call a criminal a righteous person who offers a helping hand to others and protects them. Who is threatening the states of the region and the neighbors? It is really Iraq? Do those rulers not know that the Zionist entity -- with which they have established relations and are trying to establish relations with -- possesses all kinds of weapons of mass destruction and it continues to acquire more and that it is indeed the one threatening the states of the region because it has usurped the rights of the region? Therefore, I wanted to say to you and through you that the people of Iraq are well and their allegiance to the leader and the leadership is stronger than ever before. Regarding all that is in their [Americans] sick minds and all the promises they made to some Arab rulers and officials saying that they will get rid of this symbol who everyday strips them naked showing them for what they really are right before their own people and showing what small dwarfs and agents they are, I say that this example, this leader, and this symbol of the Arab nation will stay and he will not be any less than who he is now as he defends principles and values. He believes that the Arab nation will emerge victorious no matter how much the enemies gang up on it and no matter how far the aggression goes. We will fight to the last citizen and we will be immortalized by history. They will be placed in the garbage dump of history. God's peace, mercy, and blessings be with you. [Al-Burini] Muhammad Khayr al-Burini from al-Jazirah Television. There are reports saying that US-UK forces entering through Saudi territories have crossed five kilometers into the Iraqi territories. Is this true, and what is your response? I had earlier spoken to Iraqi officials and they said that Iraq wishes that US forces would enter into southern Iraq so that they would teach them a lesson because they [US forces] would not be up to a confrontation with the Iraqi forces on the ground. [Ramadan] I do not confirm this because I do not have enough evidence in this regard and I do not deny it because launching an aggression on Iraq was not in reality based on Butler's report. Butler's report was the straw that broke the camel's back. This aggression is based on the treason of some Arab rulers. Therefore, I expect, or rather I say yes, reiterating what some [Iraqi] officials said; that we wish to have a face-to-face encounter. [Saghir] Ahmad Saghir from Radio Monte Carlo. Pardon me, Mr. Vice President. Away from the atmosphere of war, political efforts are being exerted on more than one level, particularly by Russia. How do you see these efforts? And has the Russian leadership briefed you on the ideas it has to resolve this crisis? Does Russia support the Iraqi stand? And what is your evaluation of the Turkish and Iranian positions during this crisis? [Ramadan] There are no program, suggestions, or solutions. There is a sinful and blatant aggression that violates international laws and charters, and as they say--they were always talking about a physical violations--there is a clear aggression that has been going on for four days in the ugly manner that you see it happen. Clinton calls it a civilized manner. What is required from them so far is to denounce this aggression and to look for a solution. But for us, our duty is to confront this aggression. Any talk about how to take legal action against it will take place in good time. As for our evaluation of the Turkish and Iranian positions, I speak here of a position adopted by Muslims and Arabs, I cannot speak about a diplomatic stand at the time when we are already in the worst stages of the aggression. A diplomatic position might be acceptable before an aggression actually takes place. But after the aggression has actually taken place... [pauses] we all know what an Arab and Muslim position ought to be like then. Is this [Iranian and Turkish] stand in line with this viewpoint? I do not think so. I wish this position were more harmonious with our fraternal and religious ties and neighborliness. [ANN Correspondent] [words indistinct] Tariq 'Aziz said that he will not accept any terms from now onwards. Is Iraq taking any certain measures to put an end to this critical situation without having to make concessions or to accept any terms? And how to you see the future of this situation? [Ramadan] There are no terms. We do not accept any conditions. Everything in the past is behind us now. What is required is to prosecute the hostile aggression and to hold them responsible according to their own laws, which they themselves drew up. How will we face it? We will face it with steadfastness and confrontation. [Al-Burini] Muhammad Khayr al-Burini. The Russian News Agency Itar-Tass cited sources at the Russian Foreign Ministry who said that the Iraqi Ambassador in Moscow says that you are ready to cooperate with UNSCOM in spite of all the attacks and all that has happened... [Ramadan, interrupting] If they have cited the ambassador, then this is their business and the business of the ambassador. The issue of UNSCOM is behind us now. The commission of spies is behind us now. It no longer has a task. [Al-Burini] Does this mean that you will no longer cooperate with UNSCOM and with Butler... [Ramadan, interrupting] I am not talking about the details. What I am saying is that all that has to do with inspection, monitoring, and weapons of mass destruction is now behind us. If they believe that they [the weapons] are somewhere, then they have destroyed them all. So all these issues are now behind us. If, however, they mean to say that the spies will remain in Iraq so that they can update their information and repeat the attacks in a more harmful way, then [they should know] that this is over from now onward. [MBC correspondent] Vice President, some people are saying that after the military strike there will be a new chapter. Some people are speaking about the role of the so-called the opposition. What is your comment? [Ramadan] I do no comment on such absurdity. We say to them: Use all the potentials that you have. If there is an opposition, then let them come forward. No one is holding them back. Let them do what they want. [Unidentified correspondent in English] I just want to...[pauses] It's not so much a question as a request. Those of us here, particularly from the American media, would like to get out of Baghdad so that we can fully reflect what is happening in the country here. I was thinking over the next few days we might be able to do that, if you can help us please. [question is translated into Arabic for Ramadan] [Ramadan] This is not a question. It should be addressed to the parties concerned and [this will be decided] according to the nature of the situation, the circumstances, and what in the best interest of the confrontation.
