DATE= 11/10/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222439
TITLE=U-S/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WELCOMED MONDAY'S UNIMPEDED
OVERFLIGHT OF IRAQ BY AN AMERICAN U-TWO SPY PLANE, AND SAYS THE
WORLD COMMUNITY SHOULD NOW DEMAND THE FULL-SCALE RESUMPTION OF
U-N INSPECTION OPERATIONS. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS
FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: ALTHOUGH SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD REPEATEDLY THREATENED TO SHOOT
DOWN THE SURVEILLANCE PLANE, THE FLIGHT OVER EASTERN IRAQ WENT
AHEAD WITH NO INDICATION OF HOSTILE INTENT BY IRAQ FORCES.
IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS HERE, PRESIDENT CLINTON EXPRESSED
SATISFACTION OVER THE RESUMPTION OF THE AERIAL WEAPONS SEARCH.
BUT HE SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST STILL DEAL WITH THE
FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE OF IRAQI INTERFERENCE WITH THE GROUND SEARCHES:
///CLINTON ACT///
THE UNITED NATIONS U-2 PLANE WAS NOT FIRED UPON IN ITS
FLIGHT. AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. BUT IT DOES NOT
CHANGE THE LARGER ISSUE ISSUE, WHICH IS THAT THE U-N
INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN STOPPED BY SADDAM HUSSEIN. SO THE
NEXT STEP IS TO GET A VERY STRONG RESOLUTION FROM THE
UNITED NATIONS MANIFESTING THE DETERMINATION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO RESUME THOSE INSPECTIONS.
///END ACT///
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TOLD REPORTERS AT THE PENTAGON
THAT EXPLICIT U-S WARNINGS HAD BEEN CONVEYED TO THE IRAQ LEADER
ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF TRYING TO IMPEDE THE U-2 FLIGHT, WHICH
AS HE PUT IT "WOULD NOT BE INSIGNIFICANT."
THE DEFENSE CHIEF SAID IT IS EVIDENT THAT IRAQ HAS TRIED TO
CONTINUE CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND POSSIBLY NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PROJECTS IN DEFIANCE OF THE INSPECTIONS REGIME, AND THAT SADDAM
HUSSEIN HAS BEEN PLAYING A "HIDE-AND-SEEK GAME" WITH THE U-N
INSPECTORS.
MR. COHEN SAID THE SURREPTITIOUS MOVEMENT OF IRAQ WEAPONS
HARDWARE THAT HAS OCCURRED DURING WEEK-LONG PAUSE IN INSPECTIONS
WILL SIMPLY FORCE THE U-N TEAM TO BEGIN ITS WORK FROM SCRATCH AND
FURTHER DELAY WHAT SADDAM HUSSEIN WANTS -- THE LIFTING OF U-N
SANCTIONS:
///COHEN ACTUALITY///
ULTIMATELY, WE'D HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING, AND
THE U-N INSPECTORS WOULD HAVE TO START OVER AGAIN. SO
WE'D SIMPLY HAVE TO RE-DRAW THE BASELINE WHERE THEY LEFT
OFF. SO HE DOESN'T DO ANYTHING BUT EXTEND THE TIME
DURING WHICH HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO COMPLY. IT'S GOING
TO BE AN INDEFINITE EXTENSION EACH TIME HE DELAYS THE
FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SANCTIONS.
///END ACT///
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS INSIST THERE IS BROAD SUPPORT AMONG
SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR TOUGH ACTION AGAINST IRAQ INCLUDING
BOTH FRANCE AND RUSSIA DESPITE REPORTS THEY HAVE BEEN WAVERING.
THE U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE U-N BILL RICHARDSON DISMISSED THE 11TH
HOUR (LAST MINUTE) APPEAL TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL BY IRAQI
DEOPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ AS AN EXERCISE IN DELAY,
DECEPTION AND DENIAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/MMK
10-Nov-97 1:14 PM EST (1814 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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