DATE= 11/10/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-222424 TITLE=IRAQ / FRANCE (L) BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY DATELINE=PARIS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: FRANCE HAS TOLD IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER BAGHDAD MUST COOPERATE WITH U-N ARMS INSPECTIONS. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS. TEXT: IN RECENT MONTHS, FRANCE HAS HAD A SOFTER LINE TOWARD IRAQ THAN MANY OF ITS ALLIES. FRANCE HAS ENCOURAGED A SOFTENING OF TRADE SANCTIONS AND, IN THE PAST FEW DAYS, HAS MADE IT CLEAR IT DOES NOT FAVOR NEW ARMED ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. THE DECISION TO ALLOW IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, TARIQ AZIZ, TO STOP IN PARIS ON HIS WAY TO THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK ANGERED THE UNITED STATES. WHEN MR. AZIZ ARRIVED SUNDAY, THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID THE IRAQI OFFICIAL HAD NO MEETINGS PLANNED WITH ANY FRENCH OFFICIALS. HE WAS RECEIVED MONDAY BY FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VERDINE. AFTER THE UN-ANNOUNCED MEETING, A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE FRENCH MINISTER SAID FRANCE TOLD MR. AZIZ IRAQ MUST NOT TAKE ANY HOSTILE ACTION AGAINST RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS BY AMERICAN U-2 AIRCRAFT. IRAQ HAS THREATENED TO SHOOT THEM DOWN. THE SPOKESMAN SAID MR. AZIZ WAS ALSO TOLD IF IRAQ IS TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IT MUST STOP HINDERING THE ACTIVITIES OF U-N ARMS INSPECTORS. THE FRENCH MINISTER TOLD HIM IRAQ'S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT AMERICAN INSPECTORS OF ITS WEAPONS SITES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. IN RESPONSE, THE FRENCH SPOKESWOMAN SAID MR. AZIZ LAID OUT IRAQ'S POSITION. SHE SAID ONLY THAT IRAQ'S VIEWS ARE ALREADY KNOWN, AND SHE DECLINED TO GIVE DETAILS OF THE IRAQI OFFICIAL'S REPLY. (SIGNED) NEB/JWN/JWH/RAE 10-Nov-97 10:48 AM EST (1548 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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