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December 1997

• Iraqi WMD Programs: A Summary of Developments CDISS News and Views - December 1997
• U-S/IRAQ VOA 31 December 1997 -- THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IRAQ MAY HAVE BEEN KILLED IN MASS EXECUTIONS OF OPPONENTS OF PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
• [EXCERPT] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- DECEMBER 30, 1997 -- IRAQ Primakov's Remarks Concerning US Position on Iraq History of oil-for-food program Baby Milk Powder Iraq's use of Expenditures From Oil-For-Food Program Comments Allegedly Made by the Pope Concerning Sanctions in Iraq
• 29-12-97 TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT ON HUMANITARIAN FLIGHTS TO IRAQ
• TEXT: STATE DEPARTMENT ON HUMANITARIAN FLIGHTS TO IRAQ US Information Agency 29 December 1997 (Welcomes humanitarian shipments of food, medicine)
• U-N / IRAQ OIL VOA 29 December 1997 -- THE UNITED NATIONS EXPECTS TO AUTHORIZE IRAQ TO RESUME OIL EXPORTS THIS WEEK, UNDER THE U-N OIL-FOR-FOOD ARRANGEMENT.
• IRAQ / TURKEY VOA 26 December 1997 -- IRAQ HAS CRITICIZED TURKEY FOR EXTENDING THE MANDATE OF U-S LED ALLIED FORCES PROTECTING KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ.
• U-N / IRAQ / RUSSIAN PLANE VOA 24 December 1997 -- THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID IT WILL PERMIT A RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT -- CARRYING MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND 23 MEMBERS OFTHE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT -- TO FLY TO IRAQ.
• RAQ / U-N VOA 23 December 1997 -- IRAQ HAS ACCUSED THE UNITED STATES OF BLACKMAILING THE UNITED NATIONS INTO CRITICIZING IRAQ FOR ITS FAILURE TO ALLOW FULL ACCESS TO U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
• [EXCERPT] DoD News Briefing Tuesday, December 23, 1997 Status report on Iraq; Iran atomic bomb and ballistic missiles.
• TEXT: SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT ON IRAQ WEAPONS INSPECTIONS US Information Agency 22 December 1997 (UNSC demands UNSCOM get full access to Iraq sites)
• GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL CALLS ON IRAQ TO ABIDE BY U-N RESOLUTIONS VOA 22 December 1997
• IRAQ/COUNCIL VOA 22 December 1997 -- THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS CALLED FOR IRAQ TO COOPERATE UNCONDITIONALLY WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
• U-S/IRAQ VOA 21 December 1997 -- THE WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ ESCALATED A BIT SUNDAY WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S ENVOY TO THE UNITED NATIONS WARNING TIME IS RUNNING OUT FOR BAGHDAD TO COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS REGARDING WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
• 19-12-97 UNSCOM STILL SUSPECTS IRAQI SITES USED TO HIDE WEAPONS
• Security Council Debate Reflects Continued Split on Iraq -- Friday, December 19, 1997; Page A20 -- Faced with new evidence of Iraqi defiance, the Security Council today began a new round of debate over how to gain unrestricted access for U.N. inspectors into suspected Iraqi weapons sites. But it quickly became apparent that the 15-nation council is sharply divided about how to persuade President Saddam Hussein to cooperate.
• UNSCOM STILL SUSPECTS IRAQI SITES USED TO HIDE WEAPONS By Judy Aita US Information Agency 19 December 1997 (Butler comments on report to Security Council)
• RICHARDSON CALLS UNSCOM REPORT TO UNSC ON IRAQ "DISCOURAGING" By Judy Aita US Information Agency 18 December 1997 (Hopes to resolve problem diplomatically through UNSC)
• [EXCERPT] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- DECEMBER 17, 1997 -- IRAQ Tariq Aziz press conference: US supports UNSCOM authority to inspect all suspected weapons sites in Iraq Butler to report and provide recommendations to UNSC Thursday, 12/18 Timing of UNSC response UN SecGen Annan to report on oil-for-food implementation, potential modifications US requires full compliance with UNSC resolutions by Iraq IRAN No change in US policy of openness toward bilateral dialogue US concerns re Iranian actions; US maintains sanctions Effect of potential Iran role in al-Khobar bombing in Saudi Arabia Europe's "critical dialogue" with Iran US assessment of President Khatami's speech
• 17-12-97 IRAQ REFUSES TO LET U.N. INSPECTORS INTO PRESIDENTIAL SITES
• U.N. Arms Inspector Says Iraq Still Blocks Access to Key Sites The Washington Post Tuesday, December 16, 1997; Page A16 -- Chief U.N. weapons inspector Richard Butler said that his talks with Iraqi officials on dismantling Baghdad's weapons of mass destruction have yielded little progress. Butler, speaking after three hours of talks with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, said Iraq is insisting the inspection teams will not be allowed into "presidential sites" despite U.N. demands for unrestricted access throughout Iraq.
• 15-12-97 U.S. CONDEMNS IRAQ'S EXECUTION OF JORDANIAN STUDENTS
• U-N /IRAQ VOA 14 December 1997 -- HIGH-LEVEL TALKS ARE UNDERWAY IN BAGHDAD ON THE FATE OF U-N ARMS INSPECTIONS.
• [EXCERPT] DoD News Briefing Thursday, December 11, 1997 - Status report on Iraq;
• TEXT: RICHARDSON ON IRAQ, UN AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB US Information Agency 10 December 1997 (Allies remain united and steadfast)
• [EXCERPT] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- DECEMBER 5, 1997 -- IRAQ Iraqi Claims of Humanitarian Aid Shipments Under UN Oil-for-Food Program Being Blocked UN Resolution 1143 Passed Yesterday Extending Oil-for-Food KOREA Japanese FM Obuchi's Request that the US Increase its Contribution to KEDO
• IRAQ / U-N / OIL VOA 05 December 1997 -- IRAQ SAYS IT WILL NOT EXPORT ANY MORE OIL UNTIL THE UNITED NATIONS APPROVES ITS LATEST PLAN TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD TO IRAQI CITIZENS.
• YEARENDER: IRAQ / U-N / ARABS '97 VOA 04 December 1997 -- THROUGHOUT ITS CONFRONTATION WITH THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, IRAQ SOUGHT TO RALLY SUPPORT FROM OTHER ARAB STATES.
• IRAQ FOOD OVERHAUL VOA 04 December 1997 -- U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS THE SYSTEM FOR HUMANITARIAN DELIVERIES TO IRAQ WILL UNDERGO A COMPLETE REVIEW IN THE COMING WEEKS TO MAKE SURE IT IS WORKING AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
• IRAQ OIL VOTE VOA 04 December 1997 -- THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL THURSDAY UNANIMOUSLY RENEWED A DEAL ALLOWING IRAQ TO SELL LIMITED QUANTITIES OF OIL TO RAISE CASH TO BUY HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES TO EASE THE EFFECTS OF U-N SANCTIONS.
• SECURITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY RENEWS OIL-FOR-FOOD SCHEME FOR IRAQ By Judy Aita US Information Agency 04 December 1997 (Richardson: Iraq must stop "playing politics" with U.N. program)
• TEXT: RICHARDSON'S UNSC REMARKS ON IRAQ OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM US Information Agency 04 December 1997 (Ambassador says U.S. will continue to support program)
• TEXT: UNSC RESOLUTION 1143, IRAQ "OIL-FOR-FOOD" PROGRAM US Information Agency 04 December 1997 (Security Council approved resolution to extend program)
• [EXCERPT] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing -- 04 December 1997 -- IRAQ Renewed Demands to Limit UNSCOM Inspections Promise to Russia to Dismantle Nuclear Program IAEA Inspection Findings on Nuclear Facilities / Monitoring Continues IRAN Attempts to Acquire Nuclear Missile Technology from South Africa
• Iraq / UNSCOM PRESS CONFERENCE GEORGE ROBERTSON, U.K. SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENSE AND WILLIAM S. COHEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, LONDON THURSDAY, 4 DECEMBER 1997
• UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL BACKS UNSCOM REPORT ON IRAQ By Judy Aita US Information Agency 03 December 1997 (Richardson says statement shows U.S.-Russian cooperation)
• TEXT: UNSC PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT ON UNSCOM REPORT ON IRAQ US Information Agency 03 December 1997 (Reiterates demand that Iraq fulfill all obligations)
• THE DIFFICULTY OF DEALING WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN VOA 03 December 1997 - U-S OPINION ROUNDUP
• IRAQ/COUNCIL VOA 03 December 1997 -- THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS CALLED FOR FULL ACCESS TO SUSPECTED WEAPONS FACILITIES IN IRAQ AND URGED STEPPING UP THE PACE OF DISARMAMENT IN THE COUNTRY.
• SANCTIONS DEBATE VOA 03 December 1997
• U.S. WANTS MORE EFFICIENT FOOD DISTRIBUTION FOR IRAQIS US Information Agency 02 December 1997 (Richardson: "oil-for-food" program needs improving, not money)
• NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS VOA 02 December 1997 - NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS RECEIVED A WARNING OF THE THREAT TO WORLD SECURITY POSED BY IRAQ.
• TRANSCRIPT: COHEN, WARNER DISCUSS IRAN, IRAQ, BOSNIA AT NATO HQ US Information Agency 02 December 1997 (Following meeting of NATO defense ministers)
• IRAQ FOREIGN MINISTER VOA 01 December 1997 -- THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF OIL THAT IRAQ CAN SELL UNDER THE SPECIAL FOOD-FOR-OIL DEAL. BUT IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER PUTS CONDITIONS ON ANY CHANGES TO THE PROGRAM.
• U-S AND IRAQ VOA 01 December 1997 -- WHILE TENSIONS HAVE SUBSIDED SOMEWHAT OVER IRAQ, A CLEAR U-S COURSE OF ACTION TOWARD SADDAM HUSSEIN REMAINS HOTLY DEBATED.
• OIL-FOR-FOOD VOA 01 December 1997 -- U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF OIL IRAQ CAN SELL UNDER A SPECIAL DEAL DESIGNED TO EASE THE IMPACT OF U-N SANCTIONS.
• TEXT: CLINTON LETTER TO LEADERS OF HOUSE AND SENATE US Information Agency 02 December 1997 (President reports on Iraq Sept. 23-Nov. 26)