DATE= 11/20/97
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-38139
TITLE=RUSSIA / IRAQ
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA IS CLAIMING A DIPLOMATIC COUP FOR ITS ROLE IN
HELPING TO EASE TENSIONS IN THE GULF REGION. AS CORRESPONDENT
PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW, MUCH OF THE CREDIT IS GOING
TO RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV.
TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN VALERY NESTERUSHKIN HERALDED
THE AGREEMENTS REACHED IN MOSCOW AND GENEVA DURING THE PAST FEW
DAYS AS A "GREAT SUCCESS" FOR RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY. HE TOLD
REPORTERS THE BAGHDAD-MOSCOW-GENEVA CONNECTION PROVES RUSSIA'S
ROLE AS A CATALYST IN EASING TENSIONS IN THE GULF REGION.
THE SERIES OF DIPLOMATIC MOVES WHICH RESULTED IN THE GENEVA
MEETINGS SHIFTED INTO HIGH GEAR TUESDAY WHEN IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ FLEW INTO MOSCOW ON SHORT NOTICE. HE WAS
CARRYING A MESSAGE IRAQ WAS READY TO END THE THREE-WEEK STANDOFF
WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.
FOR THE KREMLIN, IT WAS A WELCOME OPPORTUNITY. RUSSIA'S FOREIGN
MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV IMMEDIATELY TELEPHONED OTHER PERMANENT
MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL WITH THE NEWS. HE ASKED FOR
AN URGENT MEETING.
RUSSIAN FOREIGN POLICY EXPERTS SAY MR. PRIMAKOV IS A NATURAL
CHOICE TO MEDIATE IN THIS CASE. NOT ONLY IS HE AN ARABIC SPEAKER
AND A MIDDLE EAST SPECIALIST, HE IS ALSO A LONG-TIME FRIEND OF
IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN.
ANALYST VIKTOR KREMENYUK OF MOSCOW'S U-S-A / CANADA INSTITUTE
SAYS THE SUCCESS WILL GIVE A MUCH-NEEDED BOOST TO RUSSIA'S
BATTERED FOREIGN POLICY.
/// KREMENYUK ACT ///
OF COURSE, THIS WILL CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO MR.
PRIMAKOV'S PRESTIGE, BOTH INSIDE THE COUNTRY AND
OUTSIDE. AND BESIDES, IT WILL ENCOURAGE RUSSIA TO PLAY
A MUCH MORE VISIBLE ROLE THAN IT HAS PLAYED UNTIL
RECENTLY IN THE CAPACITY OF A RESPONSIBLE MEMBER OF THE
SECURITY COUNCIL.
/// END ACT ///
BUT MR. KREMENYUK CAUTIONS THIS SUCCESS IS MOSTLY DUE TO MR.
PRIMAKOV'S CONNECTIONS. HE SAYS IT WILL TAKE MORE TIME FOR
RUSSIA TO COME TO TERMS WITH ITS POST-SOVIET IDENTITY.
/// 2ND KREMENYUK ACT ///
IT IS STILL TOO PREMATURE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE GENERAL
RUSSIAN ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BECAUSE RUSSIA IS
STILL SOMEWHERE IN THE BEGINNING OF ITS NEW DIPLOMACY
COURSE. BUT IF TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PARTICULAR CASE OF
THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ, IT WAS A COMBINATION OF VERY
POSITIVE FACTORS RUSSIA POSSESSED AT THE MOMENT.
/// END ACT ///
FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV CLEARLY HOPES TO PARLAY HIS LATEST
SUCCESS INTO A GREATER ROLE FOR RUSSIA IN OTHER PARTS OF THE
REGION HE CONSIDERS HIS SPECIALTY. HE IS UNDER GREAT PRESSURE TO
DO SO.
MOSCOW'S "NEZAVIZIMAYA GAZETA", THE "INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER",
EDITORIALIZED THIS WEEK THAT RUSSIA WAS DONE NOTHING OF VALUE TO
HELP SETTLE THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT. THE NEWSPAPER SAID THE
IRAQ / U-N CRISIS OFFERS MAYBE THE BEST CHANCE FOR MOSCOW TO
REGAIN ITS ONCE STRONG INFLUENCE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/JWH/RAE
20-Nov-97 11:33 AM EST (1633 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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