DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227157
TITLE=IRAQ / ARAB REACT (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=AMMAN,JORDAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NEWS OF A BROKERED DEAL IN BAGHDAD HAS BROUGHT SIGHS OF
RELIEF AROUND THE MIDDLE EAST WHERE OPPOSITION TO A U-S MILITARY
STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ HAS BEEN THE STRONGEST. BUT, AS V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM AMMAN, JORDAN, MOST IN
THE REGION ARE ANXIOUSLY WAITING TO HEAR THE U-S REACTION TO THE
AGREEMENT TO BE SURE THE CRISIS IS REALLY OVER.
TEXT: DIPLOMATS AROUND THE REGION ARE GREETING NEWS OF THE
AGREEMENT WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM.
JORDAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS IT HAS SAVED THE REGION FROM THE
HORRENDOUS RESULTS OF A MILITARY ACTION.
EGYPT'S FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD REPORTERS IN CAIRO A DIPLOMATIC
SOLUTION WAS WHAT EVERYONE HAD HOPED FOR. HE SAID HE EXPECTS
WASHINGTON TO ACCEPT THE U-N AGREEMENT
BUT EVEN WITH A DEAL, KUWAITI COMMENTATORS PREDICT MORE SUFFERING
FOR IRAQIS AND MORE INSECURITY FOR KUWAITIS BECAUSE, THEY SAY,
SADDAM HUSSEIN CANNOT BE TRUSTED.
DHOGAN KADHIM OF THE THE IRAQI NATIONAL ACCORD -- AN IRAQI
OPPOSITION GROUP BASED IN AMMAN -- CALLS THE IRAQI LEADER
UNPREDICTABLE.
/// KADHIM ACT ///
FROM OUR EXPERIENCE AS STRUGGLERS AGAINST THIS REGIME,
WE KNOW A FEW FACTS ABOUT THIS REGIME AND ABOUT SADDAM
HUSSEIN. "A" (FIRST) -- HE BACKS DOWN WHENEVER HE FEELS
THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE DANGER CONCERNING HIS LIFE AND HIS
REGIME. AND "B" -- HE IS ILLOGICAL AND VERY
UNPREDICTABLE.
/// END ACT ///
THE OTHER UNCERTAINTY EXPRESSED HERE IN THE REGION DEALS WITH
WASHINGTON'S ATTITUDES. AN EDITORIAL IN THE SYRIA'S STATE-RUN
TISHREEN NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL ARGUES THAT THE UNITED STATES AND
ISRAEL WANT TO PROLONG THE CRISIS TO DIVERT ATTENTION FROM THE
FALTERING MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS.
ARAB CRITICS HAVE LONG COMPLAINED ABOUT DOUBLE STANDARDS IN
WASHINGTON'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL AND ITS ARAB NEIGHBORS.
BUT JORDAN TIMES EDITOR GEORGE HAWATMEH SAYS A DIPLOMATIC
SOLUTION TO THE LATEST CRISIS COULD PROVE TO BE A WIN-WIN
SITUATION FOR BOTH BAGHDAD AND WASHINGTON.
/// HAWATMEH ACT ///
THE ISSUE, THE BUILD-UP HAS HIGHLIGHTED AMERICAN
MILITARISM AND DOUBLE STANDARDS, THERE IS NO QUESTION
ABOUT IT. BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR THE
UNITED STATES TO BE DEFEATED IN THIS ISSUE ESPECIALLY IF
IT DECIDES TO MOVE ON THE PALESTINIAN PROBLEM. THERE IS
NO REASON FOR THE U-S TO ADMIT OR CLAIM DEFEAT SINCE
WHAT IT REQUIRED ALL ALONG WAS FOR THE IRAQIS TO COMPLY
WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS AND IF THAT'S WHAT THE IRAQIS DID I
DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THE U-S SHOULD INSIST ON ANY
OTHER SCENARIO THAN REACHING A SOLUTION.
/// END ACT ///
EXPRESSIONS OF OPTIMISM ARE STILL CLOUDED BY WORDS OF CAUTION
UNTIL THE UNITED STATES APPROVES THE AGREEMENT AND IRAQ
IMPLEMENTS IT. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/JWH
23-Feb-98 8:42 AM EST (1342 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
