DATE=8/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236460
TITLE=U-S / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS STEPPED UP EFFORTS TO HELP
IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS TOPPLE THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQI LEADER
SADDAM HUSSEIN. V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS.
TEXT: WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN P-J CROWLEY SAYS THE UNITED STATES
IS WORKING WITH IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS TO TRY TO BRING ABOUT A
CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD.
// CROWLEY ACTUALITY //
WE HAVE FOR SOME TIME BEEN WORKING WITH THE IRAQI
OPPOSITION TRYING TO DEVELOP WAYS TO MAKE THAT
OPPOSITION MORE EFFECTIVE. AS WE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING A NEW GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD.
RIGHT NOW WE ARE AIMED AT SEEING HOW WE CAN MOST
EFFECTIVELY USE THE RESOURCES THAT CONGRESS HAD PROVIDED
FOR WORKING WITH THE IRAQI OPPOSITION.
// END ACT //
HIS COMMENTS COME A DAY AFTER THE WASHINGTON POST NEWSPAPER
REPORTED THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SENT CONGRESS A REPORT CALLING
FOR A FIVE-MILLION DOLLAR EFFORT TO SUPPORT THE IRAQI OPPOSTION
AND OUST SADDAM HUSSEIN.
THAT IS IN ADDITION TO FIVE MILLION DOLLARS APPROVED BY CONGRESS
TO ESTABLISH THE PRAGUE-BASED RADIO FREE IRAQ THAT WILL BROADCAST
ARABIC PROGRAMMING INTO THE COUNTRY.
THE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE PLAN IS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE RELIGIOUS
AND ETHNIC PLURALISM OF IRAQ, ALTHOUGH SPOKESMAN CROWLEY SAYS THE
UNITED STATES IS NOT INTENT ON SPLINTERING THE COUNTRY.
// CROWLEY ACTUALITY //
WE CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE SOVEREIGNTY AND
TERRITORIAL INTERGRITY OF IRAQ. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT
IRAQ SHOULD BE DISMEMBERED.
// END ACT //
THE U-S PLAN TO SHORE UP THE IRAQI OPPOSITION HAS BEEN IN THE
WORKS FOR MONTHS.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS INVITED RIVAL KURDISH OPPOSITION LEADERS
TO VISIT WASHINGTON LATER THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/PT
03-Aug-98 6:26 PM EDT (2226 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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