Tracking Number: 240538
Title: "Coalition to Impose 'No-Fly' Zone in Southern Iraq." President Bush's August 26 announcement that coalition aircraft will begin flying surveillance missions in southern
Iraq August 27 to monitor the newly-established no-fly zone south of the 32nd parallel. (920826)
Translated Title: Coalicion impone zona `veda de vuelos` en sur de Irak. (920826)
Date: 19920826
Text:
COALITION TO IMPOSE "NO-FLY" ZONE IN SOUTHERN IRAQ
(Text: Bush on surveillance missions) (580) Washington -- Coalition aircraft will begin flying surveillance missions in southern Iraq August 27, President Bush says, and the coalition "is establishing a no-fly zone for all Iraqi fixed and rotary-winged aircraft."
Bush announced August 26 that the surveillance will "provide coverage of the areas where a majority of the most significant recent violations" by Iraq of U.N. Resolution 688 have taken place.
He said the no-fly zone will be similar to the one the coalition imposed on northern Iraq more than a year ago.
Following is the text of Bush's announcement: (begin text) In recent weeks and months we have heard and seen new evidence of harsh repression by the government of Saddam Hussein against the men, women and children of Iraq. What emerges from eyewitness accounts, as well as from the detailed August 11 testimony before the U.N. Security Council of U.N. Human Rights Envoy Max van der Stoel, is further graphic proof of Saddam's brutality.
We now know of Saddam's use of helicopters and beginning this spring, fixed wing-aircraft to bomb and strafe civilians and villages there in the south, his execution last month of merchants in Baghdad and his gradual tightening of the economic blockade against the people of the north. These reports are further confirmation that the government of Iraq is failing to meet its obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolution 688.
This resolution, passed in April of 1991, demands that Saddam Hussein end repression of the Iraqi people.
By denying access to human rights monitors and other observers, Saddam has sought to prevent the world from learning of his brutality. It is time to ensure the world does know.
And therefore, the United States and its coalition partners have today informed the Iraqi government that 24 hours from now coalition aircraft, including those of the United States, will begin flying surveillance missions in southern Iraq, south of the 32 degrees North latitude to monitor the situation there. This will provide coverage of the areas where a majority of the most significant recent violations of Resolution 688 have taken place.
The coalition is also informing Iraq's government that in order to facilitate these monitoring efforts, it is establishing a no-fly zone for all Iraqi fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. This new prohibition will also go into effect in 24 hours over this same area. It will remain in effect until a coalition determines that it is no longer required.
It will be similar to the no-fly zone the coalition imposed on northern Iraq more than a year ago. I want to emphasize that these actions are designed to enhance our ability to monitor developments in southern Iraq. These actions are consistent with longstanding U.S. policy toward Iraq. We seek Iraq's compliance, not its partition.
The United States continues to support Iraq's territorial unity and bears no ill will towards its people. We continue to look forward to working with a new leadership in Baghdad, one that does not brutally suppress its own people and violate the most basic norms of humanity. Until that day, no one should doubt our readiness to respond decisively to Iraq's failure to respect the no-fly zone.
Moreover, the United States and our coalition partners are prepared to consider additional steps should Saddam continue to violate this or other U.N. resolutions.
(end text) NNNN
File Identification: 08/26/92, TXT305; 08/26/92, AEF305; 08/26/92, LDP311; 08/26/92, EPF304; 08/26/92, EUR309; 08/26/92, NEA304; 08/26/92, NAA302; 08/27/92, LSD402
Product Name: Wireless File
Product
Code: WF
Languages: Arabic; Spanish
Keywords: BUSH, GEORGE/SPEAKER; IRAQ-US RELATIONS/Policy; IRAQ/Defense & Military; SURVEILLANCE; ATROCITIES; MOSLEMS; INVESTIGATIONS; VAN DER STOEL, MAX;
NO-FLY ZONES
Document Type: TXT
Thematic Codes: 1NE; 1UN; 2HA
Target Areas: AF; AR; EA; EU; NE
PDQ Text Link: 240538; 240713
USIA Notes:
*92082605.TXT
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