DATE= 11/23/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223125
TITLE=U-S/IRAQ WRAP (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE STAND-OFF WITH
IRAQ WILL NOT BE OVER UNTIL U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE ACCESS TO
EVERY SITE WHERE THEY SUSPECT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION COULD
BE MADE OR STORED. BUT IRAQ SAYS SOME OF THOSE SITES SHOULD
REMAIN OFF LIMITS. CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS NOT BACKING AWAY FROM ITS THREAT TO USE
FORCE IF IRAQ CONTINUES TO BLOCK THE WORK OF WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
TEXT: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS MATCHING ITS MILITARY BUILD
UP IN THE GULF WITH EQUALLY STRONG WORDS ABOUT WHAT IT NOW
EXPECTS FROM IRAQ.
WITH AMERICAN WEAPONS INSPECTORS BACK ON THE JOB, DEFENSE
SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TOLD N-B-C TELEVISION'S "MEET THE PRESS"
(SUNDAY) THE STAND OFF WITH BAGHDAD HAS SHIFTED FROM ALLOWING
WEAPONS INSPECTORS BACK INTO THE COUNTRY TO WHETHER THEY WILL BE
GIVEN UNLIMITED ACCESS TO EVERY SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITE THEY WANT
TO INSPECT.
// COHEN ACT //
WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON. ALL THE MORE
REASON WHY WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE UNFETTERED, UNLIMITED
ACCESS, AND THAT IS WHAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DEMANDED
AND THAT IS WHAT WE INTEND TO GET AND WE BELIEVE THE
(U-N) SECURITY COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT THAT.
// END ACT //
IRAQ THOUGH, HAS NO INTENTION OF GIVING WEAPONS SPECIALISTS
ACCESS TO PRESIDENTIAL SITES, WHERE DEADLY NERVE AND CHEMICAL
AGENTS COULD BE STORED. BAGHDAD'S AMBASSADOR TO THE U-N NIZAR
HAMDOON TOLD N-B-C THIS IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND
DIGNITY.
// HAMDOON ACT //
THE ONLY SITES WHERE WE RESTRICTED THEM (U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS) WERE THE SITES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO
THE PRESIDENT AND WE THINK THAT THOSE SITES SHOULD NOT
BE VISITED.
// END ACT //
IRAQ DENIES IT HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OR THE
WARHEADS TO DELIVER THEM. BUT 63 SITES HAVE BEEN PLACED OFF
LIMITS TO INSPECTORS. AGAIN SUNDAY, DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN
REFUSED TO RULE OUT A MILITARY OPTION IF IRAQ CONTINUES TO BLOCK
THE WORK OF U-N WEAPONS SPECIALISTS.
// SECOND COHEN ACT //
THE PRESIDENT HAS RESERVED ALL OPTIONS. HE HAS NOT
RULED ANYTHING IN OR OUT AND THAT IS PRECISELY THE WAY
IT SHOULD REMAIN.
// END ACT //
DESPITE ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS OF UNITY WITHIN THE SECURITY
COUNCIL, THERE IS STILL NO STRONG BACKING IN THE COUNCIL FOR
MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. FOR RICHARD BUTLER, THE CHAIRMAN
OF THE U-N INSPECTION TEAM WORKING IN IRAQ, THAT IS BESIDE THE
POINT.
// BUTLER ACT //
ARE WE GOING TO LIVE IN A 21ST CENTURY IN WHICH WEAPONS
OF MASS DESTRUCTION ARE AROUND EVERY CORNER OR INDEED IN
THE SUBWAYS AND SO ON? OR ARE WE GOING TO LIVE A MORE
CIVILIZED LIFE? AND IT IS NOTHING LESS THAN THAT WHICH
IS AT STAKE IN GETTING THIS JOB DONE WITH IRAQ AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
// END ACT //
(SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/RAE
23-Nov-97 12:48 PM EST (1748 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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