DATE=2/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226874
TITLE=BAHRAIN / PLANES (S)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=BAHRAIN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ANOTHER GULF ARAB STATE HAS CALLED FOR MORE DIPLOMATIC
EFFORT TO RESOLVE THE IRAQ CRISIS PEACEFULLY. BAHRAIN SAYS IT IS
NOT ALLOWING PLANES BASED ON ITS TERRITORY TO BE USED IN AN
ATTACK ON IRAQ. V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS DETAILS FROM BAHRAIN.
TEXT: THE BAHRAIN INFORMATION MINISTRY ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING
IT HAS NOT ALLOWED THE USE OF ITS TERRITORIES FOR ANY MILITARY
ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. IT WAS PERHAPS DELIBERATELY AMBIGUOUS ABOUT
WHETHER IT WOULD GRANT PERMISSION FOR LAUNCHING STRIKES FROM
BAHRAIN IN THE FUTURE.
THE STATEMENT WENT ON TO SAY BAHRAIN BELIEVES POLITICAL AND
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS MUST BE REDOUBLED. BUT WHILE CALLING FOR
THAT, OFFICIALS HERE ALWAYS STRESS THAT IRAQ MUST ALLOW
IMPLEMENTATION OF U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS THAT CALL FOR
INSPECTION OF SUSPECTED MASS WARFARE SITES.
THE U-S FIFTH FLEET HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS IN BAHRAIN, AND IN
ADDITION MORE THAN 30 COMBAT PLANES ARE BASED HERE.
EARLIER ON TUESDAY, BAHRAIN'S CROWN PRINCE SHEIKH HAMAD BIN ISA
AL KHALIFA SAID THE FIRST PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO REACHING A
PEACEFUL SOLUTION, NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES.
//OPT// SAUDI ARABIA, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES AND QATAR HAVE
ALSO VOICED OPPOSITION TO USING THEIR TERRITORY FOR LAUNCHING
MILITARY STRIKES ON IRAQ. //END OPT//
A WELL-PLACED BAHRAINI SOURCE TOLD V-O-A THAT PEOPLE HERE ARE
CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO CONFLICTING DESIRES -- TO AVOID FURTHER HARM
TO THE IRAQI PEOPLE ... AND TO SEE AN END TO THE THREAT POSED BY
SADDAM HUSSEIN. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/PCF/WTW
17-Feb-98 10:26 AM EST (1526 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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