DATE=2/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226882
TITLE= IRAQ FRANCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC WARNED IRAQ TUESDAY THAT
TIME IS RUNNING OUT IN THE SEARCH FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE
CRISIS BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND THE UNITED NATIONS. DETAILS FROM
JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS.
TEXT: IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED SAID EL-SAHAF -- IN PARIS
(TUESDAY) TO DELIVER A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TO
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT -- PROMISED THAT IRAQ WILL GIVE WHAT HE
CALLS A "POSITIVE" RECEPTION TO "BALANCED PROPOSALS."
FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, BREAKING WITH THE USUAL
PROTOCOL, ASKED TO SEE THE IRAQI MINISTER TO EXPRESS HIS FEARS
ABOUT THE CURRENT CRISIS. THE IRAQI MINISTER WAS BRINGING A REPLY
TO A MESSAGE THAT MR. CHIRAC SENT SADDAM HUSSEIN LAST MONTH.
AS MR. CHIRAC RECEIVED MR. SAHAF, HIS OFFICE ISSUED A STATEMENT
SAYING IRAQ FACES "VERY SERIOUS RISKS" BUT THAT A DIPLOMATIC
SOLUTION IS STILL POSSIBLE. THE STATEMENT SAID THE UNITED
NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SHOULD VISIT BAGHDAD THIS
WEEK.
FRANCE, IT SAID, BELIEVES THAT ALL DIPLOMATIC OPTIONS WILL NOT
HAVE BEEN EXPLORED UNTIL THE U-N CHIEF VISITS IRAQ. BUT, MR.
CHIRAC'S STATEMENT SAID, "TIME IS RUNNING OUT."
SINCE THE CURRENT CRISIS AND THE ACCOMPANYING THREATS OF
AMERICAN-LED AIR STRIKES ON PLANTS WHERE IRAQ IS SUSPECTED OF
MAKING CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, FRANCE HAS BEEN THE ONLY
MAJOR WESTERN POWER PLAYING A DIPLOMATIC ROLE.
ALTHOUGH FRANCE AGREES THAT IRAQ SHOULD COMPLY WITH U-N
RESOLUTIONS AND ALLOW INSPECTIONS OF ITS WEAPONS SITES, IT IS
FIRMLY OPPOSED TO MILITARY ACTION.
FRANCE WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL U-N COALITION THAT FOUGHT IRAQ IN
1991 AFTER ITS INVASION OF KUWAIT, BUT FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY THEY
BELIEVE THE SITUATION IS FAR DIFFERENT NOW AND THAT MILITARY
ACTION IS INAPPROPRIATE. MR. CHIRAC SAID LAST WEEK THAT THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD SEEK A SETTLEMENT TO AVOID
"KILLING WOMEN AND CHILDREN."
AS THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER PREPARED FOR MORE TALKS WITH OTHER
FRENCH OFFICIALS, HE SAID AFTER SEEING MR. CHIRAC THAT IRAQ HOPED
THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT WOULD BRING RESULTS. MR. SAHAF
SAID BAGHDAD WANTS AN INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS THAT COULD LEAD TO
A POLITICAL SOLUTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/JN/PCF
17-Feb-98 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|