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09 February 1998

TRANSCRIPT: SECDEFENSE COHEN 2/9 PRESS CONFERENCE IN KUWAIT

(Affirms US commitment to Kuwait's security, independence) (3470)
Kuwait City, Kuwait -- Secretary of Defense William Cohen told
reporters February 9 that if there is to be a diplomatic resolution to
the Iraq crisis, Saddam Hussein "would have to measure up to the
standards which the United Nations has set for itself: unrestricted,
unconditional access to all sites in Iraq, so that we can determine
whether or not he continues to build up chemical, biological weapons
which pose a threat to this entire region."
"The people of Kuwait have felt the wrath of Iraq and they understand
better than anyone else the threat that is posed by Saddam Hussein's
program to develop weapons of mass destruction," Cohen said at a joint
press conference with Kuwait Minister of Defense Sheikh Salem
Al-Sabah, following meetings with The Emir and Crown Prince as well as
the Minister of Defense.
The Secretary expressed hope that a diplomatic breakthrough can be
achieved, but, he emphasized, "a diplomatic resolution must in fact
meet the standards of the UN Security resolutions: Saddam Hussein must
agree to allow unfettered, unrestricted inspections on the part of the
UN inspectors; anything short of that would undermine the credibility
of the Security Council resolutions and undermine its expertise and
effectiveness."
"We are working together to achieve compliance through diplomacy; if
diplomacy fails Saddam alone will be responsible for the consequences,
and we are confident that our Gulf partners will provide the necessary
support," he said.
Cohen affirmed that "the United States' commitment to Kuwait's
security and independence is clear, our partnership is strong, and our
military relations are close. Kuwait's willingness to host and to
train the visiting U.S. forces demonstrates its commitment to peace
and security in the Gulf. In our meetings today, we pledged to
continue working together for stability in the region," he said.
Following is the transcript of the press conference:
(Begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Office of the Spokesman
(Kuwait City, Kuwait)
JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE BY U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN AND
KUWAIT MINISTER OF DEFENSE SHEIKH SALEM AL-SABAH
Kuwait International Airport
(Kuwait City, State of Kuwait)
February 9, 1998
KUWAIT MINISTER OF DEFENSE: I would like to welcome you ladies and
gentlemen of the press to Kuwait, and I hope you will come (inaudible)
in the future. In the name of all the 604 POWs -- in their names and
on behalf of their families -- I welcome you to Kuwait. I ask and beg
you to remember them whenever you are writing your stories. There are
604 Kuwaitis and non-Kuwaitis, Arabs and non-Arabs, who are still
unknown all over the world, and I hope you will remember that. Ladies
and gentlemen, it gives me pleasure to introduce Secretary of Defense
Cohen who came this morning to Kuwait, and met with the Emir, Crown
Prince and myself. We had a very interesting talk (which was) very
encouraging for the future relations between the United States and
Kuwait. I give the floor to the Secretary.
COHEN: Thank you very much, and I would like to express my deep
gratitude to Sheikh Salem for hosting this brief but very important
visit. As he has indicated, we had occasion to meet with the Emir and
the Crown Prince, as well as the Minister of Defense. The People of
Kuwait have felt the wrath of Iraq and they understand better than
anyone else the threat that is posed by Saddam Hussein's program to
develop weapons of mass destruction. Saddam is stunting the economic
development of his country and starving his people in order to
continue his work on chemical and biological weapons. The United
Nations Security Council has ordered Iraq to stop work on these
weapons of mass destruction and, just as Saddam has refused to return
Kuwaiti POWs and account for those missing in action, he has refused
to dismantle these deadly weapons. We are working together to achieve
compliance through diplomacy; if diplomacy fails Saddam alone will be
responsible for the consequences, and we are confident that our Gulf
partners will provide the necessary support. The United States'
commitment to Kuwait's security and independence is clear, our
partnership is strong, and our military relations are close. Kuwait's
willingness to host and to train the visiting U.S. forces demonstrates
its commitment to peace and security in the Gulf. In our meetings
today, we pledged to continue working together for stability in the
region.
QUESTION (In Arabic): Concerning the missiles that may be loaded with
nuclear or chemical or biological warheads, could they detected before
firing and could they be destroyed or rendered ineffective before
reaching their targets ? What procedure have the U.S. and British
forces undertaken to avoid exposing the State of Kuwait and Iraq's
neighbors to any dangers that may arise from Saddam Hussein's firing
of such missiles?
COHEN: As we have indicated, we believe that Saddam Hussein -- based
on what defectors have indicated -- has had some of those missiles
weaponized in the past with these deadly chemicals. We are determined
to have the UNSCOM Inspectors on the ground search out and seek the
destruction of these particular types of weapons. We have been
cooperating and consulting with our Gulf friends to make sure we have
adequate defenses should any of these types of missiles ever be
launched. It is our goal to have the UNSCOM inspectors back on the
ground, and that is why we are seeking a diplomatic solution, because
we believe that is the best way to make sure that these systems are
discovered and ultimately destroyed. But in the meantime we are
working very closely to provide for adequate defenses.
QUESTION: Why did Washington not set a deadline for Saddam Hussein's
compliance?
COHEN: Washington has been dedicated, as others have been dedicated,
to seeking a diplomatic resolution. As President Clinton has
indicated, the window of opportunity is not getting wider, it is
getting narrow, and we believe that we should give every reasonable
chance for diplomacy to succeed. At some point in time we will come to
the conclusion that we either have an opportunity to be successful or
there is no chance for success, and at that time the President will
have to make a decision; but we feel that diplomacy should be given
every reasonable chance to succeed and we are continuing to hope that
it will succeed. Before I answer any more questions, if I could
introduce Senator John Warner of Virginia and also Senator Carl Levin
of Michigan. Both Senators have been accompanying me, to a conference
that was held in Munich, Germany, and also on my tour to the Gulf
States. They are both very important members of the Senate Armed
Services Committee and will continue to play a role in insuring that
we have both strong relations with our friends and support from the
Gulf as well.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you mean to say that you intend to issue
an ultimatum to Saddam Hussein at some point?
COHEN: I think I indicated that the President is seeking a diplomatic
resolution. At some point in time that is to be determined by events
and by the President in consultations with our friends and allies, a
determination will be made as to whether there is a reasonable
prospect for succeeding on a diplomatic front. When that time
(inaudible) arrived at, the President will make that determination
when he sees fit to do so.
QUESTION: (inaudible) allowed some Americans planes into the country
and British planes into the country, are you going to be using your
air bases. Is this your way of saying yes, we can use them in case of
an attack on Iraq, or this is only as deterrent and not to launch any
attacks from Kuwait?
MINISTER OF DEFENSE: As you know, there is an agreement between
Kuwait, the United States, and the United Kingdom, -- defense
agreements -- and the question should not be asked like that; rather,
the question is: why is Saddam not implementing the Security Council
resolutions; why Saddam is not freeing our boys and girls who are
detained by him, and why he is causing the destruction of Iraq
economically, politically and (inaudible). Thank you.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, have you completed all the military
preparations or are there still things you need to do before you are
ready to strike Iraq if it becomes necessary?
COHEN: Obviously, such a determination will be made by the appropriate
military personnel; we are working very closely with General Zinni,
who will be responsible for devising and drawing up and proposing the
plans, and he will make recommendations. We will review them in the
Pentagon, and the President, ultimately, will decide whether such
additions or augmentations will be required; and that will be on a day
to day basis until such time a decision is made.
QUESTION (in Arabic): If the U.S. seeks stability of the region, why
doesn't it seek or help in the forming of an Iraqi government in exile
to give less credibility to the current Iraqi government, especially
as the U.S. has repeatedly said that it does not target Saddam Hussein
personally. Doesn't the U.S. fear a prolonged military confrontation
with Iraq now that the situation is different from 1991, in the sense
that there is an Arab disagreement on a military strike against Iraq,
including from Saudi Arabia?
COHEN: It is our policy -- there is no U.S. policy involving
assassination; this is a long-standing policy which we continue to
adhere to. With respect to support groups within Iraq, that is a
matter, of course, for the Iraqi people to determine whether they are
ready for a new regime. Secretary Albright has indicated on several
occasions that she and the United States would look forward to dealing
with a successor regime, and hopefully that can become, one day, a
reality. But in the meantime, our focus is on his weapons of mass
destruction; we are operating consistently within the UN mandate; and
that is that as the UNSCOM inspectors are not allowed to do their job
without restriction, then it may be necessary to do through military
means what can not be achieved on the ground -- and that is the
curtailing and reduction of his capability and capacity to either
develop or to deliver weapons of mass destruction; and that is what
the (inaudible) principally concern (inaudible).
QUESTION (in Arabic): The main aim of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces is to
protect Kuwait, and this is in the opinion of the military leadership,
but entering Iraq is not Kuwait's concern at all unless it is for
Kuwait's increased protection. Is this another matter decided by the
military establishment?
MINISTER OF DEFENSE: In reference to the question that has been
addressed to me, whether or not the Kuwaiti army will enter Iraqi
territory, the answer will be definitely according to the advice given
to me by my Chief of Staff and the Military Committee. The aim and
that tactic is not to enter Iraqi land unless it is a matter of
defending Kuwait. These are military tactics which I have nothing to
do with.
QUESTION: You said aboard the plane quote "we have complete assets in
the region, from Saudi Arabia and from Kuwait." Can you
(interruption).
COHEN:  Sorry, what was the first part of your question?
REPEAT QUESTION: You said you have complete assets in the region, can
you explain further more about what you said? Regarding the reports
that the aircraft carrier Nimitz is leaving the Gulf area, is there a
new arrangement or measure?
COHEN: I believe I said to the traveling press -- and they are here to
verify or contradict -- that we have sufficient assets to carry out
any military operation if it will be necessary; that we will have and
intend to have that, should it become necessary, I have no doubt. With
respect to the Nimitz, the Nimitz is due to return to the United
States for repair and reconstitution; we intend to maintain two
carriers in the Gulf, and that will be our policy.
QUESTION:  Does that mean there are new military arrangements?
COHEN: We have another carrier, a third carrier that was coming in to
replace one of the carriers, to replace the Nimitz; there will be two
carriers on station. There is also the Amphibious Ready Group which
will come in to the Gulf as well, that is proceeding on its way as we
speak.
QUESTION: Mr. Cohen, today a Western diplomat here in Kuwait expressed
optimism about a diplomatic solution; he said that there is at least
more than 50% chance of a diplomatic solution to the crisis. Do you
share that optimism?
COHEN: Hope springs eternal and we hope for a diplomatic resolution;
however, hope will probably not be eternal in terms of time. We are
always hopeful that such a diplomatic breakthrough can be achieved,
but it must be emphasized that a diplomatic resolution must in fact
meet the standards of the UN Security resolutions: Saddam Hussein must
agree to allow unfettered, unrestricted inspections on the part of the
UN inspectors; anything short of that would undermine the credibility
of the Security Council resolutions and undermine its expertise and
effectiveness. So, if there is to be a diplomatic resolution, he would
have to measure up to the standards which the United Nations has set
for itself: unrestricted, unconditional access to all sites in Iraq,
so that we can determine whether or not he continues to build up
chemical, biological weapons which pose a threat to this entire
region.
QUESTION:  Are you optimistic?
COHEN: I am always optimistic. I have no basis on which to make a
determination (inaudible) statements, so we are hopeful. But we are
also prepared to use force if it becomes necessary. We are hoping that
that would not be the case.
QUESTION: Is the U.S. waiting for more support from other countries
for a military strike against Iraq, or are you waiting for diplomacy
to work? When will a military strike begin?
COHEN: I believe all of the Gulf states, I believe all of the United
Nations members, the United States included, would prefer to see a
diplomatic resolution. We think that the most important most effective
means of insuring that Saddam Hussein is not building and increasing
his weapons of mass destruction is to have the inspectors on the
ground without any restrictions, so that is the goal that we are
seeking. So no one is looking for a military option as the best
option; what we are saying is that if these inspectors are not allowed
to do their job, then there must be some means of compensating in
order to reduce his capacity to develop these horrible weapons, and
that is our goal, and so I believe that is shared by all the Gulf
states, shared by the United States and all of the United Nations. How
we achieve that and whether or not the Security Council will, in fact,
back its resolutions, is something that we hope will become a reality.
But we are seeking a diplomatic resolution. Who determines when all
possibilities have been exhausted, I think time will tell us, in terms
of what we seek coming from Saddam Hussein. He holds in his hands the
keys to this crisis; he can resolve it tomorrow by simply abiding by
the resolutions that he is required to abide by. That is very simple
on his part, so he holds the keys to resolving the crisis
diplomatically and, ultimately, he will have to make a determination
whether he is going to continue to flout the UN or abide by its
resolutions.
QUESTION (in Arabic): Sheikh Salem, the Iraqi regime stated that they
do not own weapons that threaten their neighbors, but yesterday Nezar
Hamdoun's representative stated at the UN that in case Iraq was
attacked, then all who are living in the area will suffer, including
Kuwaitis - he mentioned Kuwait by name. Did you discuss this reaction
with your friends? Another question for Mr. Cohen: how do you look at
the current situation right now: what Albright has declared in that we
are approaching the last minutes of the military confrontation?
COHEN: Secretary Albright by virtue of her travels throughout the
Gulf, by her prodigious efforts and the role of her travel efforts in
recent days -- as a matter of fact, non-stop efforts of diplomacy --
has indicated on several occasions that we have patience, but that
patience is not eternal; it is wearing thin. Several methods of
expressing this, I think, have become evident and, that while we are
seeking a diplomatic resolution, that can not be stretched into
infinity; at some point in time we will have to take action that can
not be a diplomatic resolution. So I think she has made it very clear
that this is not an indefinite (inaudible) but rather we are going to
obviously support an appropriate, reasonable diplomatic resolution
that adheres to the UN requirements, but there is not going to be an
indefinite period of time for Saddam to simply drag this matter out in
the future.
QUESTION: The US says it does not need UN approval for a military
strike against Iraq. Doesn't this open the door for other countries to
not abide by the UN Charter and UN resolutions in the future?
COHEN: Let me respond very directly to that question: the United
States believes by virtue of prior UN resolutions that more than
enough authority exists for the United States to take action under
existing UN resolutions. It would be helpful on the part of other
countries to support a resolution condemning Iraq's behavior,
condemning the non-compliance, declaring it to be in a significant
breech of its obligations; it will be helpful but not necessary in our
judgment. The UN resolutions currently in existence provide enough
authority for the United States to take action. We think that if there
are resolutions that would be supportive to add to that, it will be
helpful but unnecessary.
QUESTION (translated and answered by MINISTER OF DEFENSE): The
question was whether we would be prepared to receive any immigrants or
people or settlers coming from Southern Iraq. The answer is yes, we
are, because we respect humanity, we respect the individual; we will
receive them at the borders and we will leave them at the border, and
the International Red Cross will be there and everybody will be there
to represent the refugees.
QUESTION: Your Excellency, there have been unconfirmed reports that
the Iraqi regime has used POWs as guinea pigs for chemical and
biological tests. Now if this actually happened just before this
latest crisis began -- if it is proven -- does this take you to
another level of urgency or commitment?
COHEN: We are not in a position to verify those reports, and so I can
not comment with any kind of authority on that. Let me say that I
think Saddam Hussein by his past conduct has demonstrated time and
time again that he has very little regard for human life; he has
demonstrated that by attacking his own people with chemical weapons,
by attacking the Iranians with chemical weapons; I remind everyone
what he did here in Kuwait in terms of his troops with robbing, and
raping, and pillaging, and also setting all those oil wells on fire.
He engaged in an act of what we would call eco- or environmental --
terrorism designed to pollute the atmosphere, to destroy the
environment, and he had no hesitation whatsoever to do that. Under
these circumstances, I don't think we need further evidence of his
disregard for human life, so I think that the body of evidence is
quite clear: Saddam Hussein has posed a threat to this region and will
continue to do so with his chemical and biological weapons, which is
one reason why I come back to the point that it is important for
UNSCOM Inspectors to get on the ground if they can, and action may be
necessary to reduce that capability. With respect to the question
about UN resolutions, I indicated that it is helpful only in the sense
of sending very strong signals to Saddam Hussein that the Security
Council means exactly what it said when it passed those resolutions,
and that by showing united support they will send a very strong
message to Saddam Hussein that he should yield and abide by the
resolutions themselves. But I repeat once again that the United States
does not feel it needs any more authority than the current existing
resolutions provided by the Council.
Thank you.
(End transcript)