DATE= 11/22/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223105
TITLE=CLINTON/RUSSIA/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=DENVER
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
*INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS REJECTED A SUGGESTION BY RUSSIAN
PRESIDENT BORIS YELTIN FOR EARLY ACTION TOWARD EASING U-N
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. THE TWO LEADERS HAD A TELEPHONE
CONVERSATION SATURDAY. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM
DENVER, COLORADO..
TEXT: SENIOR WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY MR. YELTSIN -- IN A
40-MINUTE TALK WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON -- PROPOSED A PHASED
REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS AS VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE U-N WEAPONS
SEARCH ARE CONCLUDED.
BUT THEY SAY MR. CLINTON, WHILE EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR RUSSIAN
DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT IN THE INSPECTIONS CRISIS, SAID THERE HAS TO
BE FULL COMPLIANCE BY IRAQ WITH THE RELEVENT U-N RESOLUTIONS
BEFORE THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS IS CONSIDERED.
IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS IN DENVER, MR. CLINTON SAID THE ISSUE OF
IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS AT THE
U-N, AND NOT THE POLITICIANS:
///CLINTON ACT///
WHAT I EMPHASIZED TO PRESIDENT YELTSIN IS: WE HAVE COME
A LONG WAY BY WORKING TOGETHER. AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE
WORKING TOGETHER. AND THE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO
WITH THE INSPECTIONS SHOULD BE MADE BASED ON THE
EVIDENCE, THE FACTS, AND THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT OF
THE INSPECTORS. NEITHER THE POLITICAL INCLINATIONS OF
THE UNITED STATES NOR OF OUR ALLIES SHOULD CONTROL THOSE
DECISIONS.
///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON SAID HE SHARED PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S CONCERN ABOUT
HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN IRAQ, AND SUPPORTS AN EXPANSION OF THE
U-N SUPERVISED PROGRAM UNDER WHICH IRAQ HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO SELL
OIL TO FINANCE FOOD AND MEDICINE PURCHASES.
BUT HE SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT THING NOW IS TO PUT THE INSPECTORS
BACK TO WORK AND WITHOUT IMPEDIMENTS.
A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL WHO SPOKE TO REPORTERS ENROUTE
TO DENVER SAID THE U-N SHOULD REJECT IRAQ'S CONTINUNING
INSISTENCE THAT SO-CALLED PRESIDENTIAL SITES IN THE COUNTRY BE
OFF-LIMITS TO THE INSPECTORS.
HE SAID SADDAM HUSSIEN HAS 47-DIFFERENT PRESIDENTIAL PALACES
INCLUDING ONE COMPOUND ROUGHLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE CITY OF
WASHINGTON, D-C. WE ARE NOT TALKING, HE SAID, ABOUT LITTLE
COUNTRY HOMES.
HE SAID THE CLINTON-YELTSIN CONVERSATION DEALT WITH OTHER ISSUES
INCLUDING THE STALLED EFFORT TO GET RUSSIAN RATIFICATION OF THE
START-TWO STRATEGIC ARMS TREATY. THE OFFICIAL SAID PRESIDENT
YELTSIN PROMISED A NEW EFFORT TO GET THE TREATY THROUGH
PARLIAMENT, AFTER THE DUMA COMPLETES ITS CURRENT DEBATE ON THE
RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT BUDGET.
MR. CLINTON STOPPED HERE ON THE WAY TO THE 18-NATION PACIFIC-RIM
ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN VANCOUVER CANADA EXPECTED TO BE DOMINATED BY
EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THE TURMOIL IN ASIAN FINANCIAL MARKETS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/SD
22-Nov-97 4:32 PM EST (2132 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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