DATE=2/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226725
TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS MADE AN APPEAL TO IRAQI LEADER
SADDAM HUSSEIN TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS TO GO FORWARD AND
ELIMINATE THE NEED OF U-S-LED MILITARY ACTION. HE ALSO SAYS
RUSSIAN OPPOSITION TO A MILITARY MOVE WILL NOT STOP THE UNITED
STATES FROM ACTING. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE
WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS HE WANTS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE
CRISIS AND HAS "BENT OVER BACKWARDS" TO TRY TO ACHIEVE ONE. HE
SAYS IF THERE HAS TO BE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, IT WILL BE
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S DECISION, NOT HIS.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER THE SWEARING-IN OF A NEW SURGEON
GENERAL HERE, THE PRESIDENT SAID HE HOPES AND PRAYS THAT THE
IRAQI LEADER WILL ACCEPT THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
AND ALLOW WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS "NON-POLITICAL" U-N INSPECTORS TO
CONTINUE THE PROCESS OF ELIMINATING IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY//
THIS IS NOT A COMPLICATED THING. A COUNTRY LIKE IRAQ
CAN BE A GREAT COUNTRY AND SUCCEED, WITHOUT HAVING A
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM AND THE MEANS TO
VISIT THOSE WEAPONS ON THEIR NEIGHBORS. AND THIS IS A
DECISION FOR HIM TO MAKE. I THINK IT IS A NO-BRAINER
(REQUIRES NO THOUGHT) IN TERMS WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE
PEOPLE, THE CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE OF IRAQ.
///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON STRESSED U-S SUPPORT FOR THE U-N OFFER -- THUS FAR
SPURNED BY BAGHDAD -- TO ALLOW EXPANDED SALES OF IRAQI OIL TO
FINANCE FOOD AND MEDICINE FOR IRAQ'S NEEDY POPULATION.
UNDER QUESTIONING, THE PRESIDENT ALSO SAID HE UNDERSTANDS
RUSSIA'S OPPOSITION TO MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, EXPRESSED
FORCEFULLY IN MOSCOW THURSDAY BY DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV.
BUT HE SAID THE UNITED STATES CANNOT ACCEPT THE NOTION THAT IRAQ
WOULD BE ALLOWED TO SIMPLY FLOUT ITS INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS:
///CLINTON ACT TWO///
I DON'T THINK YOU CAN HAVE A SET OF UNITED NATIONS
RESOLUTIONS ABOUT SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE
OF THE WORLD, AND SIMPLY WALK AWAY IF DIPLOMACY FAILS.
AND THAT'S THE RUB (PROBLEM). BUT WE'RE GOING TO KEEP
WORKING WITH THE RUSSIANS AND EVERYBODY ELSE. WE'RE
TRYING TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, AND I HOPE THAT
WHATEVER HAPPENS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH RUSSIA WILL
CONTINUE TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE AND STRONG BECAUSE THAT'S
VERY IMPORTANT TO THE FUTURE OF OUR PEOPLE.
///END ACT///
ASKED DIRECTLY IF THE UNITED STATES COULD GO FORWARD WITH A
MILITARY STRIKE IN THE FACE OF RUSSIAN OPPOSITION, HE MADE CLEAR
THE UNITED STATES WOULD BE PREPARED TO GO FORWARD WITH A MILITARY
STRIKE DESPITE RUSSIAN OPPOSITION. HE SAID, "NYET (NO IN
RUSSIAN) IS NOT NO FOR THE UNITED STATES UNDER THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES." (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/MMK
13-Feb-98 12:08 PM EST (1708 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
