DATE=2/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227003
TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE HOPES THE MISSION TO BAGHDAD BY
U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN YIELDS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO
THE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS CRISIS -- BUT SAYS IF THAT PROVES
UNATTAINABLE, SADDAM HUSSEIN WILL BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY.
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAID HE AND FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC
AGREED IN A PHONE CONVERSATION THAT THE ANNAN MISSION PRESENTS A
"CRITICAL OPPORTUNITY" FOR A PEACEFUL END TO THE CRISIS.
BUT IN A HASTILY-ARRANGED TALK WITH REPORTERS HERE AS HE LEFT FOR
A DAY OF TRAVEL ON THE EAST-COAST, THE PRESIDENT MADE CLEAR THERE
IS LITTLE LEFT TO DISCUSS -- OTHER THAN WHETHER SADDAM HUSSEIN
WILL GIVE THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS FULL, FREE AND UNFETTERED
ACCESS TO ALL SITES IN THE COUNTRY:
///CLINTON ACT///
WE HOPE THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MISSION WILL SUCCEED.
BUT LET ME BE CLEAR. IF DIPLOMACY FAILS, WE MUST BE AND
WE ARE PREPARED TO ACT. THE CHOICE IS SADDAM HUSSEIN'S.
WE HOPE HE WILL ACCEPT THE MANDATE OF THE WORLD
COMMUNITY. HE HAS AFTER ALL, AGREED TO IT ALREADY, YEARS
AGO. IF NOT HE MUST BEAR THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
CONSEQUENCES.
///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON ALSO BRUSHED ASIDE THE SUSTAINED HECKLING HIS
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISERS RECEIVED DURING A PUBLIC FORUM ON IRAQ
AT THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IN COLUMBUS (WEDNESDAY). HE
DESCRIBED THE TUMULTUOUS EVENT AS "A GOOD OLD FASHIONED AMERICAN
DEBATE" WHILE PREDICTING THAT IF IT COMES TO MILITARY ACTION, THE
NATION WILL BE UNITED AS IT WAS ON THE EVE OF THE GULF WAR:
///CLINTON ACT TWO///
I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT MOST AMERICANS SUPPORT OUR
POLICY. THEY SUPPORT OUR RESOLVE. I THINK AN
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ALSO WANT A PEACEFUL
RESOLUTION TO THIS. BUT IF IT'S NECESSARY FOR US TO ACT,
I BELIEVE AMERICA WILL DO WHAT IT ALWAYS DOES. I BELIEVE
IT WILL UNITE, JUST AS WE DID IN 1991. I BELIEVE IT WILL
UNITE BEHIND TAKING THE NECESSARY ACTION.
///END ACT///
ASKED IF SADDAM HUSSEIN MIGHT BE EMBOLDENED BY THE DISPLAY OF
DISSENT IN COLUMBUS, MR. CLINTON SAID NOT IF HE UNDERSTANDS THE
FIRST THING ABOUT AMERICA.
/// REST OPT ///
THE PRESIDENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT BECAUSE OF THE CRISIS, VICE
PRESIDENT AL GORE IS POSTPONING A TRIP TO SOUTH AFRICA NEXT WEEK
-- WHERE HE WAS TO PRESIDE, ALONG WITH THAT COUNTRY'S DEPUTY
PRESIDENT THABO MBEKI, AT A SESSION OF THE U-S / SOUTH AFRICAN
JOINT COMMISSION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/TMD/JO
19-Feb-98 12:07 PM EST (1707 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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