DATE= 11/18/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222861
TITLE=RUSSIA / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE WILL HOLD URGENT TALKS
WITH HIS FRENCH, BRITISH AND AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS ON A PLAN TO
END THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS.
V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.
TEXT: THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AT THE END OF A DAY OF FAST-BREAKING
DEVELOPMENTS. IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ ARRIVED IN
THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL ON SHORT NOTICE AND WAS WHISKED AWAY FOR
MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AND PRESIDENT
BORIS YELTSIN.
MR. PRIMAKOV SAID THE IRAQI OFFICIAL HAD COME WITH AN ANSWER TO A
RUSSIAN PLAN FOR AVOIDING THE USE OF FORCE IN THE U-N ARMS
INSPECTION CRISIS.
/// PRIMAKOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///
THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THE PLAN CALLS FOR IRAQ TO
FULFILL ALL ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER U-N RESOLUTIONS.
MR. PRIMAKOV WAS VAGUE ON DETAILS, BUT SAID HE WOULD MEET
WEDNESDAY WITH HIS BRITISH, FRENCH, AND AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS TO
DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL, EITHER IN PERSON OR BY TELEPHONE.
MR. AZIZ'S STOP IN MOSCOW CAME DURING A WHIRLWIND TOUR OF FOREIGN
CAPITALS TO RALLY SUPPORT FOR IRAQ'S POSITION IN ITS
CONFRONTATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. THE UNITED STATES HAS
ASKED RUSSIA TO ASSIST IN SETTLING THE DISPUTE.
MOSCOW TRADITIONALLY HAS HAD GOOD RELATIONS WITH BAGHDAD. MR.
PRIMAKOV, AN ARAB SPECIALIST, MAKES NO SECRET OF HIS LONG
FRIENDSHIP WITH IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
BUT RUSSIA HAS BACKED U-N RESOLUTIONS ON IRAQ, AND URGED THE
BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW ARMS INSPECTORS BACK INTO THE
COUNTRY. BUT MR. PRIMAKOV SAYS HIS VISION OF A DIPLOMATIC
SOLUTION INVOLVES AN EVENTUAL END TO SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.
(SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH/RAE
18-Nov-97 11:58 AM EST (1658 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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