DATE=2/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226947
TITLE=HUNGARY / PRIMAKOV / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=STEFAN BOS
DATELINE=BUDAPEST
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV SAYS HE
BELIEVES THE IRAQ CRISIS WILL BE SETTLED DIPLOMATICALLY --
WITHOUT THE USE OF FORCE. STEFAN BOS IN BUDAPEST REPORTS MR.
PRIMAKOV MADE THE COMMENTS AFTER TALKS WITH HUNGARIAN OFFICIALS.
TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV TOLD REPORTERS THERE ARE
INDICATIONS THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ WILL BE SOLVED DIPLOMATICALLY.
THE RUSSIAN OFFICIAL HAD SAID EARLIER HE BELIEVES IRAQ WILL
SUBMIT TO U-N INSPECTIONS OF SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES.
SPEAKING TROUGH AN INTERPRETER, MR. PRIMAKOV SAID THE VISIT OF
U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TO BAGHDAD THIS COMING WEEKEND
AND STATEMENTS TUESDAY BY PRESIDENT CLINTON WILL HELP LEAD TO A
PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF THE CRISIS.
/// PRIMAKOV TRANSLATOR ACT ///
THE ARRIVAL IN BAGHDAD OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY
GENERAL WILL CREATE A SITUATION TO SOLVE THE CRISIS
POLITICALLY. THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT APPRECIATES
YESTERDAY'S ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT
BILL CLINTON WHO SAID THAT HE PREFERS TO FIND A
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.
/// END ACT ///
MR. PRIMAKOV AVOIDED COMMENT ABOUT THE HUNGARIAN PARLIAMENT'S
VOTE TUESDAY TO ALLOW HUNGARIAN PARTICIPATION IN ANY U-S LED
MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ. THE RESOLUTION ALLOWS FOREIGN
PLANES TO USE HUNGARIAN AIRSPACE AND SOME OF ITS MILITARY AIR
BASES IN A STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ.
THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALSO DID NOT DIRECTLY CRITICIZE
HUNGARY FOR ITS EFFORTS TO JOIN NATO. IN FACT, HE SAID HE
UNDERSTANDS HUNGARY'S INCREASED MOVEMENT TOWARD THE WEST,
INCLUDING PROPOSALS TO JOIN THE EUROPEAN UNION.
BUT HE REPEATED THAT RUSSIA OPPOSES NATO EXPANSION, ALTHOUGH HE
SAID RECENT AGREEMENTS BETWEEN NATO AND RUSSIA HAVE EASED SOME OF
MOSCOW'S CONCERNS. (SIGNED)
NEB/SF/JWH/JO
18-Feb-98 12:08 PM EST (1708 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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