DATE=2/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227133
TITLE=IRAQ WRAP SUNDAY (S)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS
REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TO END
THE STAND-OFF OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. BUT U-S OFFICIALS ARE
TAKING A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE. AS CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE
REPORTS, THE BIG QUESTION IN WASHINGTON IS WHETHER THIS
AGREEMENT WILL BE ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION,
WHICH IS THREATENING TO ATTACK IRAQ IF THE ANNAN MISSION COMES UP
SHORT.
TEXT: BEFORE THE UNITED STATES ACCEPTS THIS AGREEMENT, THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO SEE THE FINE PRINT AND GET A FULL
REPORT FROM THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL ON WHAT HE HAS NEGOTIATED.
WHATEVER ENTHUSIASM THERE WAS IN BAGHDAD ABOUT PROGRESS IN THESE
TALKS, IT WAS TEMPERED BY ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS AND MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, WHO WATCHED EVENTS UNFOLD SUNDAY WITH VARIOUS DEGREES
OF SKEPTICISM.
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT STRESSED THAT WHATEVER
AGREEMENT EMERGES, IT MUST MEET STRICT U-S REQUIREMENTS. THEY
INCLUDE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO IRAQ'S SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES --
AND NO LIMIT TO THE LENGTH OF TIME PLACED ON INSPECTIONS -- AS
WELL AS MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE U-N WEAPONS TEAMS.
IN A CLEAR SIGN THAT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS BEEN WARY ABOUT WHAT THE
ANNAN MISSION CAN ACHIEVE, PRESIDENT CLINTON'S NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISOR SAMUEL BERGER SAID EVEN IF AN AGREEMENT IS REACHED, THE
UNITED STATES HAD NO PLANS TO SCALE DOWN ITS MILITARY PRESENCE IN
THE GULF.
ONCE THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION GETS A FULL BRIEFING ON EXACTLY
WHAT THE IRAQIS HAVE AGREED TO, IT WILL THEN HAVE TO DECIDE
WHETHER THIS FORMULA MEETS ITS DEMANDS OR WHETHER TO RESUME THE
COUNTDOWN TOWARD A MILITARY STRIKE. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/SD
22-Feb-98 4:58 PM EST (2158 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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