DATE= 11/19/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222935
TITLE=U-S/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN WASHINGTON, CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS ARE
SKEPTICAL ABOUT ANY BREAKTHROUGH ON THE IRAQ CRISIS COMING FROM
THE EMERGENCY FOUR-POWER MEETING IN GENEVA. BUT THEY ARE
DECLINING COMMENT ON THE SUBSTANCE OF THE RUSSIAN INITIATIVE.
DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS THAT BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT, THE FOUR
PARTICIPANTS WILL NOT DISCUSS DETAILS OF THE LATEST DIPLOMATIC
MOVES UNTIL AFTER THE OVERNIGHT MEETING IN GENEVA. BUT OFFICIALS
HERE ARE MAKING IT CLEAR THEY HAVE LOW EXPECTATIONS FOR A QUICK
END TO THE THREE-WEEK-OLD CRISIS.
PRESIDENT CLINTON TOLD A WHITE HOUSE GATHERING ON CHILD ADOPTIONS
THAT ANY DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS MUST BEGIN WITH IRAQ'S
UNCONDITIONAL AGREEMENT TO ALLOW THE U-S WEAPONS INSPECTIONS TO
GO FORWARD.
/// CLINTON ACTUALITY///
IRAQ MUST COMPLY WITH THE UNANIMOUS WILL OF THE
INTERNATIOANL COMMUNITY AND LET THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS
RESUME THEIR WORK -- TO PREVENT IRAQ FROM DEVELOPING AN
ARSENAL OF NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
THE INSPECTORS MUST BE ABLE TO DO SO WITHOUT
INTERFERENCE. THAT IS OUR TOP LINE. THAT IS OUR BOTTOM
LINE. I WANT TO BE ACHIEVE IT DIPLOMATICALLY. BUT WE
ARE TAKING EVERY STEP TO MAKE SURE WE ARE PREPARED TO
PURSUE WHATEVER OPTIONS ARE NECESSARY. I DO NOT WANT
THESE CHILDREN WE ARE TRYING TO PUT IN STABLE HOMES TO
GROW UP INTO A WORLD WHERE THEY ARE THREATENED BY
TERRORISTS WITH BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS.
(APPLAUSE)
/// END ACT ///
THE UNITED STATES SIGNALED EARLIER THIS WEEK IF THE INSPECTIONS
WENT FORWARD, IT WOULD CONSIDER REDUCING THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS
INVOLVED IN THE GROUND SEARCH, AND ALSO SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN
THE AMOUNT OF OIL IRAQ CAN SELL UNDER U-N SUPERVISION TO FINANCE
HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS.
BUT IRAQ HAS SPURNED THE NOTION OF AN EXPANDED OIL-FOR-FOOD
PROGRAM -- PROMPTING WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY TO
SUGGEST THE IRAQI LEADER IS INCAPABLE OF MAKING THE KIND OF
CONCESSIONS NEEDED TO END THE U-N SANCTIONS REGIME IN PLACE SINCE
THE END OF THE GULF WAR.
/// MCCURRY ACT 2 ///
IF HE HAS A CHANGE OF HEART AND BEGINS TO COMPLY WITH
THE TERMS OF THE RESOLUTIONS, AND BEGINS TO IMPLEMENT
THEM, BEGINS TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF THE KURDISH
POPULATION IN THE NORTH AND THE POPULATIONS IN THE SOUTH
THAT HE IS GASSED BEFORE, AND DESTROYED THE MARSHLANDS
UPON WHICH MANY OF THOSE POPULATIONS LIVED. IF, IN
OTHER WORDS HE BECAME SOMEONE OTHER THAN THE SADDAM
HUSSEIN WE HAVE COME TO KNOW AND BEGAN TO IMPLEMENT
RELEVANT RESOLUTIONS AND LIVE UP TO HIS INTERNATIONAL
OBLIGATIONS, THAT IS THE CONDITION UPON WHICH THE UNITED
NATIONS COULD VERY EASILY THEN BEGIN TO MOVE AWAY FROM
THE SANCTIONS REGIME -- THAT IS JUST NOT WHERE WE ARE AT
THIS MOMENT, IN FACT WE HAVE GONE THE OTHER DIRECTION.
/// END ACT ///
MR. MCCURRY SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD NOT BEEN BRIEFED ON THE
PROPOSED SETTLEMENT RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV
SAID HE HAD WORKED OUT WITH IRAQ ENYOY TARIQ AZIZ -- AND WILL
HAVE NO SUBSTANTIVE RESPONSE UNTIL SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT
HAS REPORTED ON THE GENEVA MEETING EARLY THURSDAY.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE BROKE OFF A SOUTH ASIAN MISSION TO ATTEND
THE GENEVA MEETING WITH MR. PRIMAKOV AND THEIR BRITISH AND FRENCH
COUNTERPARTS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
19-Nov-97 2:46 PM EST (1946 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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