• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Title:  "Latest UN-Iraqi Crisis Over, but Tensions Remain." The White House says that while the crisis caused by Iraq's refusal to allow a UN weapons inspection team to enter a building in Baghdad has been resolved, there are still underlying tensions linked to Iraqi violations of UN Security Council resolutions. (920729)

Translated Title:  Termina crisis mas reciente ONU-Irak, subsisten tensiones. (920729)
Author:  MCDONALD, DIAN (USIA STAFF WRITER)
Date:  19920729

Text:
LATEST U.N.-IRAQI CRISIS OVER, BUT TENSIONS REMAIN

(Kansteiner: U.S. will monitor U.N. efforts) (540) By Dian McDonald USIA White House Correspondent Washington -- While the crisis caused by Iraq's refusal to allow a U.N. weapons inspection team to enter a building in Baghdad has been resolved, there are still "underlying tensions" linked to Iraqi violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions, says a White House official.

At a briefing for international correspondents at the USIA Foreign Press Center in Washington, Walter Kansteiner, White House deputy press secretary for foreign affairs, said July 29 that the United States will monitor future efforts by the United Nations in Iraq, including inspection teams authorized to seek materiel or data related to Iraqi programs to develop weapons of mass destruction.

The crisis that developed after the U.N. inspection team was prohibited from entering Iraq's Agriculture Ministry building "obviously has now been resolved....But there are tensions that still clearly remain," Kansteiner said.

"And those tensions are fueled by, and because of, U.N. Security Council resolution violations. And so those underlying tensions are clearly still there. And we will watch with great interest future U.N. efforts, including inspection teams," he added.

The White House official discussed other foreign policy topics, including Bosnia-Hercegovina and U.S.-Chinese trade relations. And he said Israeli Prime Minister Rabin will confer with President Bush August 10-11 in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Kansteiner also commented on the meetings slated in Washington for leaders of Iraqi opposition groups. He said they were scheduled to confer July 29 with Secretary of State Baker and "will probably be going to the White House" July 30 to meet with National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft.

"The meetings are set up mostly for us and for our senior administration officials to listen and learn what the opposition groups have to say -- their assessment of what's happening in Iraq and...what some of their policies...goals and objectives" are, he said.

He noted that the opposition group leaders who will take part in the talks represent various organizations and include representatives from Kurdistan and from Shia and Sunni population groups.

In reference to the current international conference in Geneva on humanitarian aid for victims of the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, Kansteiner cited U.S. interest "in making sure that the refugee situation is dealt with in a constructive and helpful manner." He said the administration is "very concerned" in terms of the refugees coming out of Bosnia-Hercegovina.

Asked about the legislation passed by the House of Representatives July 21 that would place conditions on the Bush administration's ability to renew China's MFN (most-favored-nation) trading status, Kansteiner said, "We do not support that legislation. In fact, the president will probably be advised to veto that, if that comes to his desk.

"We believe that MFN for China is the correct policy," he added. "It will continue to lead toward a liberalization of the economic programs in China, which, in turn, will lead to a liberalization of the political system, as well. So the Bush administration is quite convinced that MFN for China is, in fact, the right course to maintain. And we plan on maintaining it."

NNNN

File Identification:  07/29/92, PO-307; 07/29/92, EP-310; 07/29/92, EU-307; 07/29/92, NE-305; 07/30/92, AR-403; 07/30/92, AS-405; 07/30/92, NA-404
Product Name:  Wireless File
Product Code:  WF
Languages:  Spanish; Arabic
Keywords:  UNITED NATIONS-SECURITY COUNCIL; IRAQ-US RELATIONS; IRAQ/Defense & Military; INSPECTIONS; ARMS CONTROL VERIFICATION; NUCLEAR WEAPONS; UNITED NATIONS-SPECIAL COMMISSION ON IRAQ; SANCTIONS
Thematic Codes:  1NE; 1UN; 1AC
Target Areas:  EA; EU; NE; AR
PDQ Text Link:  236963; 236998
USIA Notes:  *92072907.POL