06 February 1998
CLINTON, BLAIR WARN IRAQ IT MUST COMPLY WITH U.N. RESOLUTIONS
(Also discuss other policy issues at press conference) (1040) By Wendy S. Ross USIA White House Correspondent Washington -- President Clinton and British Prime Minister Blair agree that it is entirely up to Iraq's leader Saddam Hussein as to whether there will be a diplomatic solution to the crisis he has precipitated by denying U.N. weapons inspectors access to Iraqi sites suspected of harboring weapons of mass destruction. "The Prime Minister and I would both prefer a genuine diplomatic solution," Clinton told reporters at his February 6 joint press conference with Tony Blair in the East Room of the White House. But, said Clinton, if Saddam "does not comply with the unanimous will of the international community, we must be prepared to act -- and we are." Clinton said: "On Iraq, we stand together. Saddam Hussein must know that we are determined to prevent him from threatening his neighbors and the world with weapons of mass destruction." The President said that despite public statements by Russia, France and China objecting to possible military action against Iraq, "there is more agreement than at first it appears about the necessity to push this thing through to the end." He said he planned to continue to talk with Russian Federation President Boris Yeltsin, French President Jacques Chirac, and others about the stalemate with Iraq. According to Blair, Saddam Hussein "has the choice" to "bring himself back into compliance with the agreements he entered into" with the United Nations following the Gulf War. But just in case diplomacy does not work, Britain has decided to base eight Tornado GR-1 ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft in Kuwait. He said Kuwait has agreed to their deployment, which will take place over the next few days. The British Prime Minister said the objectives with regard to Iraq "are very clear; that is, to ensure either that the weapon inspectors can come in and finish their task or that the capability that Saddam Hussein undoubtedly has and wants to develop for weapons of mass destruction, is taken out. And it is absolutely essential that what we do is focused upon the best way possible that we can do that." Clinton and Blair also discussed a number of other foreign policy issues during their White House talks. The President said these "included progress towards building an undivided Europe; welcoming Hungary, the Czech Republic and Poland into NATO; forging strong relations with the new democracies there, including Russia and Ukraine; helping the parties in Bosnia to fulfill the requirements of the Dayton peace accord." Both Britain and the United States, he said, "agree we should take part in a follow-on security presence" when the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR) mission ends in Bosnia in June. The two leaders also "reaffirmed our determination to combat modern cross-border threats like terrorism and the spread of the weapons of mass destruction," Clinton said. Even after 10 years, he said, "we haven't forgotten the victims of the bombing of Pan Am 103 in the skies over Lockerbie, Scotland, or their loved ones. We will not rest," said Clinton, "until Libya complies with the requirements of the world community and surrenders for trial in the United States or Scotland, the two Libyans accused of that brutal crime." He welcomed Britain's efforts as President of the European Union to spur greater cooperation in the Middle East peace process, and he commended Blair "for his courageous steps" in cooperation with the Irish government to promote a climate of confidence and hope in Northern Ireland. Blair said he and Clinton agreed that it was important that Europe strengthen its relationship with Turkey "and that we build a strong relationship with Turkey; between Turkey and the European Union for the future." In addition, the two leaders discussed the recent financial crisis in Asia, and urged that the international community help the affected nations resolve it. "On our increasingly interconnected planet,", said Clinton, "trouble in the far end of town can easily become a plague in our own neighborhood. We agree that every affected nation must take responsibility for implementing tough reforms, and that other nations, when they do that, when those nations that are affected do their part, other nations should support helping them through the International Monetary Fund." The President also said he was "heartsick" about the accident earlier in the week in which a low-flying U.S. combat aircraft snapped a cable at an Italian ski report, causing a gondola car to plunge hundreds of feet into a valley, killing all 20 persons aboard. Clinton said he would make absolutely sure there was "a no-holds-barred, full investigation on what happened." He said he pledged to Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in a telephone call that he would do everything in his power to find out exactly what happened and to take appropriate action in the case. Blair praised Clinton's ability to "stick to the issues" that he was elected to accomplish, despite the allegations of personal impropriety against him. What is important, Blair said, "is what we've managed to do -- to discuss the issues that we've set out and listed for you. And as I say, I think we'd be pretty much failing in our duty if we weren't to do that." He said that since his arrival in the United States he has talked to many people and found "huge" interest in the Iraq crisis, the peace effort in Northern Ireland and his governance of Great Britain. "I think the best thing is for us to concentrate upon those issues," he said, "because that's what we were elected to do. And that's what I intend to do. That's what President Clinton is doing, and I think he's quite right." Prime Minister Blair and his wife Cherie were on a three-day official visit to the United States. They were scheduled to return to Britain February 7 after spending the night of February 6 at Camp David with the President, the First Lady, Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper. (For more information on the Iraq crisis, contact the USIA website at: http://www.usia.gov/regional/nea/gulfsec/iraqpage/htm)
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