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DATE=3/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246371
TITLE=COHEN / MIDEAST (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE UNITED 
STATES GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO SHARE ITS MONITORING OF IRAQI 
AND IRANIAN MISSILES TESTS WITH NATIONS IN THE GULF REGION.  
V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS SECRETARY 
COHEN ANNOUNCED THE PROPOSAL DURING A VISIT TO THE UNITED ARAB 
EMIRATES, THE FOURTH STOP ON HIS NINE-NATION TOUR OF THE MIDDLE 
EAST.
TEXT:  DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN ANNOUNCED THE PROPOSAL MONDAY IN 
ABU DHABI, SAYING HE THINKS IT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL THE GULF
STATES. 
THE U-S OFFICIAL SAID UNDER THE PROPOSAL, COMPUTER TERMINALS SET 
UP IN EACH PARTICIPATING COUNTRY WOULD RECEIVE INFORMATION FROM 
U-S DEFENSE SATELLITES.  THE SATELLITES USE INFRARED SENSORS TO 
DETECT HEAT FROM MISSILE LAUNCHES.
U-S OFFICIALS SAID THEY ARE PROPOSING TO SHARE INFORMATION ON 
MISSILE TESTS, BUT IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO ALSO TRANSMIT WARNINGS
OF ACTUAL MISSILE ATTACKS.
IRAN AND IRAQ ARE REPORTEDLY DEVELOPING MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILES 
THAT COULD STRIKE VARIOUS COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.  ISRAEL HAS AN
EVEN MORE DEVELOPED MISSILE PROGRAM.
DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN IS TOURING THE MIDDLE EAST TRYING TO 
RALLY SUPPORT FOR THE U-S POLICY OF CONTAINMENT OF IRAQ.
THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY MET MONDAY WITH THE LEADER OF THE 
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, SHEIKH ZAYED IBN SULTAN AL-NAHAYAN, WHOSE 
GOVERNMENT HAS CRITICIZED THE U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES AGAINST
IRAQ.
MR. COHEN SAID HE EXPLAINED THE NEED TO CONTINUE TO CONTAIN IRAQI
AGGRESSION AND RETALIATE FOR IRAQI ATTACKS ON WESTERN PATROLS 
OVER NO-FLY ZONES IN IRAQ.  THE VISIT CAME AS U-S PLANES LAUNCHED
GUIDED MISSILES AT SEVERAL IRAQI DEFENSE INSTALLATIONS AFTER 
COMING UNDER ARTILLERY FIRE.
HOWEVER, MR. COHEN DENIED A REPORT IN THE LOCAL AL-KHALEEJ 
NEWSPAPER OF A U-S PLAN TO ENCOURAGE SEPARATIST GROUPS IN IRAQ. 
HE SAID U-S POLICY IS TO MAINTAIN IRAQ'S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY 
BUT TO SEEK A CHANGE OF IRAQI LEADERSHIP.
EARLIER, THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY VISITED OMAN, SAUDI ARABIA, 
AND BAHRAIN.  HE ANNOUNCED THE U-S GOVERNMENT WILL SELL ADVANCED 
AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES TO BAHRAIN AND SAUDI ARABIA.  HE SAID 
AGREEMENT WAS ALSO REACHED TO INCREASE JOINT MANEUVERS WITH THE 
SAUDI MILITARY AND TO ESTABLISH JOINT STUDIES ON THE THREAT OF 
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY IS TO VISIT QATAR AND KUWAIT, BEFORE 
HEADING TO JORDAN, EGYPT, AND ISRAEL LATER IN THE WEEK.  (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH
08-Mar-99 11:23 AM EST (1623 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.