DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227173
TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS CONSULTING WITH OTHER WORLD LEADERS
ON THE AGREEMENT REACHED WITH IRAQI LEADERS BY U-N
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IN BAGHDAD. THE ADMINISTRATION IS
WITHHOLDING SUBSTANTIVE COMMENT ON THE TURN OF EVENTS. V-O-A'S
DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: U-S OFFICIALS ARE WAITING TO ANALYZE DETAILS OF THE
AGREEMENT STRUCK IN BAGHDAD BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL -- AND UNTIL
THAT HAPPENS, THEY ARE DECLINING TO SAY IF THE DEAL MEETS THE
CRITERIA THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SET FOR ENDING THE INSPECTIONS
CRISIS.
PRESIDENT CLINTON SPOKE BY TELEPHONE WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN
LATE SUNDAY AFTER THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL SIGNED THE ACCORD
WITH IRAQI LEADERS. REPORTERS HAD BEEN EXPECTING AT LEAST AN
INITIAL REACTION FROM THE PRESIDENT AT A MORNING MEETING WITH
STATE GOVERNORS. BUT MR. CLINTON, WHO ARRIVED A HALF-HOUR LATE
BECAUSE OF DISCUSSIONS ON IRAQ, WOULD ONLY SAY THAT HE IS IN
TOUCH WITH FOREIGN LEADERS ON THE SITUATION:
///CLINTON ACT ///
I HAVE CALLED (BRITISH) PRIME MINISTER (TONY) BLAIR THIS
MORNING. WE HAD A LONG TALK ABOUT THE SITUATION. AND I
STILL HAVE TO TALK TO (RUSSIAN) PRESIDENT (BORIS)
YELTSIN AND (FRENCH) PRESIDENT (JACQUES) CHIRAC. AND I
MAY HAVE TO LEAVE THE MEETING AND THEN COME BACK.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY NOW.
///END ACT///
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS INSISTED THAT ANY AGREEMENT REACHED WITH
THE IRAQIS MUST ALLOW UNIMPEDED ACCESS BY U-N INSPECTORS TO ALL
FACILITIES IN IRAQ, INCLUDING THE DOZENS OF PRESIDENTIAL AND
SENSITIVE SITES FROM WHICH THEY HAD BEEN BARRED.
WHILE OFFICIALS HERE HAVE BEEN SILENT ON THE MERITS OF THE
AGREEMENT, MR. ANNAN HIMSELF HAS PREDICTED IT WILL BE ACCEPTABLE
TO SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND IT HAS ALREADY BEEN WELCOMED BY
FRANCE AND RUSSIA.
IN CONGRESS, SENATE MAJORITY LEADER TRENT LOTT SAID THE
ADMINISTRATION MAY BE IN AN AWKWARD POSITION, BEING PRESSED BY
ALLIES TO ACCEPT A FAULTY AGREEMENT. HE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS A LONG-TERM STRATEGY IN CASE A NEW INSPECTIONS
DEAL FALLS THROUGH:
///LOTT ACTUALITY///
THERE A LOT OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT HAS
HAPPENED, WHERE WE ARE, AND WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM PLAN.
I STILL DON'T SEE THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS A PLAN TO
DEAL WITH THIS CONTINUING PROBLEM. SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS
SAID: "OH, GOOD, THEY CAN COME BACK IN." WILL THEY BE
THERE IN SIX WEEKS, OR TWO MONTHS? I THINK THIS IS
STILL A VERY MUCH A DICEY AND UNRESOLVED ISSUE.
///END ACT///
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY A DEFINITIVE VERDICT ON THE
AGREEMENT MAY HAVE TO AWAIT SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN'S BRIEFING
FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL, EXPECTED TUESDAY. IN THE MEANTIME,
THEY SAY THE U-S FORCE BUILDUP IN THE REGION WILL GO FOWARD AS
PLANNED. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/MMK
23-Feb-98 12:57 PM EST (1757 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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