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DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227169
TITLE=E-U / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JOHN FRASER
DATELINE=BRUSSELS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE 15 EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE GIVEN A 
CAUTIOUS WELCOME TO THE REPORTED AGREEMENT ON THE IRAQ WEAPONS 
CRISIS.  BUT JOHN FRASER IN BRUSSELS REPORTS THE E-U MINISTERS 
REMAIN CAUTIOUS UNTIL FULL DETAILS OF THE DEAL HAVE BEEN 
PRESENTED TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.
TEXT:  THERE WAS A FEELING OF RELIEF AS THE 15 FOREIGN MINISTERS 
GATHERED IN BRUSSELS FOR THEIR ROUTINE MONTHLY GATHERING. ALL THE
SIGNS WERE THAT THE ELEVENTH HOUR MISSION OF THE U-N SECRETARY 
GENERAL HAD BEEN A SUCCESS, AND THAT THE MILITARY OPTION WILL  NO
LONGER BE NEEDED AGAINST IRAQ.
HAD THE ISSUE OF AIR STRIKES STILL BEEN AT THE TOP OF THE 
POLITICAL AGENDA, IT WOULD HAVE EXPOSED THE DIVISION OF THE 15 
E-U GOVERNMENTS.  INSTEAD, THEY WERE ABLE TO UNITE IN CAUTIOUSLY 
WELCOMING THE PROSPECT OF PEACE, AND THEY ISSUED A STATEMENT 
SAYING AN AGREEMENT WAS POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE OF THE FIRM RESOLVE
OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK SAID HE BELIEVES LITTLE 
WOULD HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT THAT THREAT OF FORCE.
                       ///  COOK ACT  ///
         IT IS TOO EARLY TO MAKE ANY JUDGMENTS ABOUT THE MILITARY
         PRESENCE IN THE GULF, BUT I THINK WHAT WE CAN SAY IN THE
         LIGHT OF THE DEVELOPMENTS IN BAGHDAD IS THAT IT HAS 
         ALREADY PLAYED A VERY USEFUL PART. SADDAM IS A MAN WHO 
         ONLY MAKES AGREEMENT UNDER PRESSURE, THIS TIME HE HAS 
         LOOKED OVER THE BRINK AND IT MAY BE THAT HE HAD DECIDED 
         IT WOULD BE WISER TO AGREE TO THE DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION 
         THAT WE HAVE BEEN OFFERING FOR A LONG TIME.
                        ///  END ACT  ///
LATER, MR COOK SAID THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS NOW BACKED DOWN.  HE 
SUGGESTED THAT IF THERE HAD BEEN  NO  PRESSURE ON HIM, THERE 
WOULD HAVE BEEN  NO  DEAL.
MR COOK NOTED THAT ONCE THE TEXT OF THE DEAL HAS BEEN STUDIED, 
AND IF IT PROVES ACCEPTABLE, IT MUST BE NAILED DOWN IN A NEW 
RESOLUTION OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL.  HE SAID THE 
TEST OF THE AGREEMENT WILL BE WHETHER IT ALLOWS FULL AND REGULAR 
INSPECTIONS OF ALL SITES IN IRAQ WHERE WEAPONS COULD BE 
MANUFACTURED.  (SIGNED)
NEB/JF/JWH/PLM
23-Feb-98 11:55 AM EST (1655 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.