Tracking Number: 215773
Title: "Cheney: Enforcing Sanctions Against Iraq Important." Defense Secretary Cheney says the purpose of the UN embargo, sanctions and blockade of Iraq is to prevent Saddam
Hussein from earning oil revenues which could be used to rebuild his military forces or restart his nuclear program. (920221)
Translated Title: Cheney: es importante poner en vigor sanciones contra Irak.; On doit faire respecter
les sanctions contre l`Irak. (920221)
Author: PORTH, JACQUELYN S (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date: 19920221
Text:
CHENEY: ENFORCING SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ IMPORTANT
(Welcomes coalition naval participation) (990)
By Jacquelyn S. Porth
USIA Security Affairs Writer
Washington -- Defense Secretary Cheney says the purpose of the United
Nations embargo, sanctions and blockade of Iraq is to prevent Saddam
Hussein from earning oil revenues which could be used to rebuild his
military forces or restart his nuclear program.
The United States hopes, the secretary says, that the Iraqis will comply with the U.N. Security Council resolutions, permitting U.N. inspectors to do their job and that Iraq will abandon efforts to develop weapons of mass destruction.
In a February 20 press conference in Buenos Aires, Cheney said the United States continues to support existing sanctions on Iraq until it fully complies with the U.N. resolutions. "We are not planning to mount another Desert Storm (military operation)," he said, "but we do maintain significant military capability in the region should the situation arise" requiring stronger action.
While U.S. naval forces remain in the Persian Gulf region, most other coalition forces have withdrawn, the secretary said, and the United States would welcome further naval participation by Argentina "or any other nation in the coalition" wishing to participate in sanctions enforcement. Before making his comments Cheney visited the Argentine destroyer, Almirante Brown, which saw service in the gulf last year along with an Argentine frigate.
Any further request for the participation of naval forces, the secretary said, "focuses specifically on the issue of maintaining the embargo (and) not (in) undertaking an offensive military action."
Asked if a blockade might serve to help overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein, the secretary said there could be "an indirect effect, but that is not the stated purpose of the policy." He also pointed out that the embargo does allow Iraq to freely import food and medical supplies.
The secretary made these and other remarks about proliferation, democracy, counter narcotics efforts, and humanitarian assistance during a five-nation tour of South America where he had scheduled meetings in Panama, Brazil, Guatemala, Argentina and Chile from February 15 to 24.
"We are not eager to see new nations develop nuclear...or biological and chemical weapons," Cheney said, and the United States wants to try "to slow down the proliferation of certain types of military technologies." The secretary pointed to Iraq as an example of a country committed to acquiring "more deadly weapons systems" and said, "this is to be discouraged."
The United States is reducing its inventory of nuclear weapons, destroying chemical weapons stockpiles and, as a signatory to the 1975 Biological Weapons Treaty, does not have a biological weapons program, he said, adding, "We are encouraging others to follow the same course."
During a stop in Brazil, Cheney said the United States is "impressed with the commitment of the Brazilian government to participate in a worldwide effort to curb the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction." The secretary also expressed support for Brazil's decision to permit International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of its nuclear facilities and an agreement concluded with Argentina on chemical weapons.
Following a meeting with Argentine Defense Minister Antonio Erman Gonzalez February 20, the secretary praised Argentina's decision not to proceed with the Condor Two ballistic missile program, calling that decision "beneficial for the maintenance of peace and security." The United States believes, he said, that Argentina "made a very sound decision to be part of the worldwide effort to enhance the prospects for peace and stability in years to come."
In Brasilia Cheney noted how impressed the United States has been recently "with the progress made throughout the hemisphere in restoring democratic traditions, principles and institutions."
The United States will always do its best to stand up for democratic principles, the secretary said, as well as "to speak out strongly on behalf of democratically elected governments and to encourage others to do the same." Cheney said the United States would work not only with the nations in the hemisphere but with the Organization of American States to coordinate efforts to achieve this objective.
Throughout his trip the secretary talked about the problems associated with the illicit drug trade and "the detrimental effect" it has on countries where drugs are produced. He described U.S. military efforts to halt drug trafficking and noted that the United States is eager to work with the governments in the region "to do everything we can, collectively, cooperatively....to put a stop to what is a scourge on the integrity...and the social fabric of all of our nations that are afflicted."
After meeting with President Jorge Serrano in Guatemala City, Cheney pointed to the results of Guatemala's anti-drug efforts, which he said are manifest "in terms of increased seizures of narcotics."
Asked about the U.S. defense posture in the post-Cold War era, Cheney said American defense strategy has been altered so that "we no longer are planning on an all-out global war that would begin with a Soviet assault in Western Europe." In the future, a smaller U.S. force will be equipped to respond rapidly anywhere in the world to deal with regional conflicts such as the Persian Gulf war, he said.
Even though the United States is withdrawing from some 700 overseas facilities, Cheney said, it will still have forces deployed forward in Europe and Asia. The United States will also continue to retain its strategic deterrent forces and maintain its system of democratic alliances around the world.
"We believe that the prospects for peace and stability in the world are enhanced by the United States maintaining a forward presence," he said, by having it "stay actively engaged around the world, and by maintaining our system of alliances committed to the proposition that we should oppose aggression and do everything we can to enhance a situation in which societies based on values such as ours, freedom and democracy, can flourish."
NNNN
File Identification: 02/21/92, PO-504; 02/21/92, EP-518; 02/21/92, EU-508; 02/21/92, NE-505; 02/24/92, AE-108; 02/24/92, AR-106; 02/24/92, NA-103; 02/25/92, AS-203; 02/27/92, AF-409
Product Name: Wireless
File
Product Code: WF
Languages: Arabic; Spanish; French
Keywords: CHENEY, RICHARD B; IRAQ-US RELATIONS; IRAQ/Defense & Military; MILITARY CAPABILITIES; SANCTIONS; ARMS EMBARGOES; UNITED
NATIONS-SECURITY COUNCIL; PERSIAN GULF WAR; HUSSEIN, SADDAM; PETROLEUM EXPORTATION
Thematic Codes: 1NE; 1AC; 1UN
Target Areas: AF; AR; EA; EU; NE
PDQ Text Link: 215773; 216428; 217224
USIA Notes: *92022104.POL
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