DATE=12/2/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-223542 TITLE=NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS (L-ONLY) BYLINE=JOHN FRASER DATELINE=BRUSSELS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AT TALKS IN BRUSSELS, NATO DEFENSE MINISTERS RECEIVED A GRIM WARNING OF THE THREAT TO WORLD SECURITY WHICH IS POSED BY IRAQ. DETAILS OF IRAQ'S POWERFUL ARSENAL OF WEAPONS WERE GIVEN (TUESDAY) BY THE UNITED STATES. JOHN FRASER REPORTS FROM BRUSSELS. TEXT: THE ALLIANCE DEFENSE MINISTERS RECEIVED A DETAILED BRIEFING FROM DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN ON IRAQ'S CAPACITY TO MOUNT GAS AND GERM ATTACKS. THE BRIEFING FOLLOWS THE RECENT STANDOFF BETWEEN IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN AND THE UNITED NATIONS OVER THE ADMISSION OF AMERICAN INSPECTORS, AS PART OF A U-N MONITORING MISSION. OFFICIALS SAY THAT AT THE TIME, NOT EVERY NATO NATION WAS AS SUPPORTIVE OF THE UNITED STATES AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN, AND THE BRIEFING WAS DESIGNED TO PROVE TO ALL THE ALLIES THAT THE RISK FROM IRAQ IS REAL -- AND WIDESPREAD. THE U-S UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS, WALTER SLOCOMBE, SAID SECRETARY COHEN HAD IMPRESSED ON AMERICA'S NATO PARTNERS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO KEEP UP PRESSURE ON IRAQ TO PERMIT FULL, UNHINDERED INSPECTIONS. THE SOBERING AMERICAN PRESENTATION WAS DESIGNED TO CONVINCE ALL PRESENT THAT IRAQ DOES NOT PRESENT JUST A REGIONAL THREAT, BUT A GLOBAL ONE. THE AMERICANS SAY IRAQ HAS THREE-POINT-NINE TONS OF A SUPER-TOXIN CALLED "V-X," LARGE STOCKS OF DEADLY ANTHRAX, AND IS WORKING ON A MISSILE WITH A RANGE OF THREE-THOUASAND MILES, WHICH COULD PENETRATE DEEP INTO THE TERRITORY OF MANY OF NATO'S EUROPEAN MEMBERS. SECRETARY COHEN STRESSED THAT U-2 AIR SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS OVER IRAQ MUST CONTINUE UNTIL ALL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED. NATO MINISTERS WERE SHOWN PICTURES WHICH WERE SAID TO BE OF IRAQ'S REPUBLICAN GUARD IN A CHEMICAL WEAPONS FACILITY. IN ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT, BRITAIN AND SPAIN HAVE SOLVED A MAJOR DISPUTE OVER GIBRALTAR, CLEARING THE WAY FOR SPAIN'S ENTRY INTO NATO'S INTEGRATED MILITARY COMMAND. THIS WILL ALLOW REFORM AND STREAMLINING OF THE COMMAND STRUCTURE, WITH A NEW REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS IN MADRID. THE ISSUE OF GIBRALTAR HAS LED TO FREQUENT PROBLEMS BETWEEN BRITAIN AND SPAIN, WHICH BOTH CLAIM SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE TINY, BUT STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT, TERRITORY. //REST OPT// THE NATO MINISTERS ALSO DISCUSSED WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE "S-FOR" NATO-LED STABILIZATION FORCE IN BOSNIA, THE MANDATE FOR WHICH IS DUE TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF JUNE. THERE WAS SUPPORT FOR A STUDY TO BE DRAWN UP INTO THE OPTIONS, WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON RETAINING A PRESENCE IN BOSNIA, BUT WITH A SLIMMED-DOWN FORCE. DISCUSSIONS WERE ALSO HELD ON PLANS TO EXPAND THE NATO ALLIANCE, TO BRING IN POLAND, HUNGARY AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC. THIS WILL COST OVER THREE BILLION DOLLARS IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS, WITH THE UNITED STATES ALONE FACING AN ADDITIONAL ANNUAL BILL OF 37-MILLION DOLLARS. (SIGNED) NEB/JF/PCF 02-Dec-97 1:45 PM EST (1845 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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