DATE=2/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226809
TITLE=GULF DIPLOMACY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=BAHRAIN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WHILE THE BUILDUP CONTINUES FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION
AGAINST IRAQ, URGENT ACTIVITY CONTINUES ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT,
AS WELL. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER IS IN THE GULF STATE OF BAHRAIN AND
HAS A REPORT.
TEXT: HERE IN BAHRAIN, THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE GULF DAILY NEWS
CARRIED A FRONT PAGE REPORT ON THIS COUNTRY'S SUPPORT FOR A
LAST-DITCH MISSION TO BAGHDAD BY UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL
KOFI ANNAN.
THE BAHRAIN CABINET ON SUNDAY SAID IT WELCOMED AN ATTEMPT BY MR.
ANNAN AND WISHED HIM SUCCESS.
JORDAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, SPEAKING IN AMMAN, WAS BLUNTER. HE
SAID A POSSIBLE MISSION TO BAGHDAD BY THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL
WOULD BE THE LAST CHANCE, THE LAST CARD IN THE HAND. HE
DESCRIBED MR. ANNAN AS PERHAPS THE ONLY ONE CAPABLE OF REACHING A
POLITICAL SOLUTION.
JORDAN HAS ECHOED CALLS FROM WESTERN AND GULF ARAB STATES FOR
BAGHDAD TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS
THAT IT ALLOW FREE INSPECTION OF SUSPECTED SITES WHERE CHEMICAL
AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE COMPONENTS MAY BE HIDDEN.
IRAQ IS ALSO BUSY WITH DIPLOMACY. FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMAD
SAEED AS-SAHAF STOPPED IN LEBANON, THE FOURTH LEG OF A TOUR OF
THE REGION THAT INCLUDED VISITS TO JORDAN, EGYPT AND SYRIA TRYING
TO DRUM UP SUPPORT. ANOTHER IRAQI ENVOY, DEPUTY PRIME MINSITER
MAHAMMAD HAMZA AL ZUBEIDI HAS BEEN TOURING NORTH AFRICA ON THE
SAME MISSION.
IRAQ'S MESSAGE IS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE UP THE EVIDENCE
THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS BEEN BUILDING AND HIDING GERM WARFARE
AGENTS AND POISON GAS.
FOREIGN MINISTER AS SAHAF EXPRESSED HOPE THE UNITED NATIONS
SECRETARY GENERAL CAN COME UP WITH WHAT HE CALLED -- AN OBJECTIVE
FORMULA -- TO ALLOW U-N INSPECTORS TO SURVEY SUSPECTED SITES.
IRAQ HAS PREVENTED SUCH INSPECTIONS IN THE PAST.
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE INSISTED THAT IRAQ COMPLY
FULLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AND NOT TRY TO
DICTATE THE TERMS OF THE INSPECTIONS.
MEANWHILE, THE MOOD HERE IN BAHRAIN, HALF WAY DOWN THE GULF FROM
IRAQ, APPEARS, ON THE SURFACE, CALM. BUT LIKE SOME OTHER ARAB
GULF STATES BAHRAIN SEEMS TO BE HOPING SOMETHING -- PERHAPS
DIPLOMACY -- WILL PREVENT THE NAVAL ARMADA THAT HAS GATHERED OFF
ITS SHORES FROM ACTUALLY HAVING TO GO INTO ACTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/MMK
16-Feb-98 9:12 AM EST (1412 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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