DATE= 11/20/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222987
TITLE=U-S-IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ACCEPTING ANY CONDITIONS IRAQ
AND RUSSIA MAY HAVE ATTACHED TO THE RETURN OF U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS TO BAGHDAD. RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA WHERE
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MET HER COLLEAGUES FROM
RUSSIA, BRITAIN, AND FRANCE IN A POST-MIDNIGHT SESSION.
TEXT: IRAQ'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE RETURN OF THE U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS MAY HAVE CONDITIONS, BUT THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT
PLAN TO ACCEPT THEM.
STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS IRAQ'S REVERSAL OF
COURSE IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT SECRETARY OF STATE
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE INSPECTORS CAN
DO THEIR WORK.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
SO FAR WHAT WE HAVE ARE STATEMENTS BY SADDAM HUSSEIN TO
REVERSE COURSE. WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THAT HAS REALLY
HAPPENED. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.
/// END ACT ///
IRAQ IS SAYING IT HAS AGREED WITH RUSSIA THE WEAPONS TEAMS WILL
BE BALANCED, SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS WILL END, AND THE INSPECTORS
WILL BE BARRED FROM PRESIDENTIAL SITES.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE DID NOT ACCEPT ANY
CONDITIONS FOR THE RETURN OF THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS AT HER
MEETING WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS IN GENEVA.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
THEY (IRAQ) HAVE LONG OBJECTED TO THE WAY THAT UNSCOM
HAS OPERATED. THE UNITED STATES HAS AGREED TO NO
CONDITIONS. THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS.
/// END ACT ///
A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS IN ANY CASE, THE UNITED STATES
CAN VETO IRAQI CONDITIONS IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. THE
OFFICIAL SAYS RUSSIA HAS ALWAYS ADVOCATED IRAQI POSITIONS WITHIN
THE SECURITY COUNCIL, BUT HAS JOINED THE UNANIMOUS RULING OF THE
PERMANENT FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IRAQ MUST COMPLY
UNCONDITIONALLY WITH THE INSPECTIONS.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT LEAVES GENEVA THIS AFTERNOON FOR
VANCOUVER, CANADA WHERE SHE WILL PREPARE THE ASIA-PACIFIC SUMMIT
CONFERENCE FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON. SHE IS LIKELY TO USE HER
OPPORTUNITY THERE TO MEET WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN
QICHEN ON POLICY TOWARD IRAQ. MR. QIAN WAS THE ONLY MINISTER
FROM THE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT DID NOT
ATTEND THE GENEVA MEETING (THURSDAY). (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/TMD/RAE
20-Nov-97 10:23 AM EST (1523 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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