DATE=2/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227233
TITLE=ALBRIGHT/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI
ANNAN AND IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS BEEN RECEIVED WITH
SKEPTICISM BY THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE.
CORRESPONDENT RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, THE
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT AMBIGUITIES IN THE
AGREEMENT.
TEXT: THE SPECIAL PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THE U-N-IRAQ AGREEMENT
FOR WEAPONS INSPECTIONS OF EIGHT PRESIDENTIAL SITES ARE TO BE
CLARIFIED BY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION.
SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS BRIEFED THE SENATE
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE ON THE ELEMENTS OF THE AGREEMENT
SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN REACHED IN BAGHDAD. SHE SAYS THE
ADMINISTRATION HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT AMBIGUITIES IN THE AGREEMENT,
ESPECIALLY THE PROVISIONS FOR DIPLOMATS TO ACCOMPANY THE
INSPECTORS TO THE PRESIDENTIAL SITES.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
KOFI ANNAN HAS AGREED TO ALLOW SOME DIPLOMATS TO
ACCOMPANY THE INSPECTORS TO THE PALACE SITES. NOW, THAT
MAY BE ACCEPTABLE IF THE INSPECTORS ARE FREE TO CONDUCT
RIGOROUS AND PROFESSIONAL INSPECTIONS AND UNSCOM HAS TO
BE IN OPERATIONAL CONTROL. THAT IS DECIDING WHERE THEY
ARE GOING TO GO, THE TIMING. ETC.
/// END ACT ///
WHILE THE SENATE COMMITTEE CRITICIZED THE U-N AGREEMENT, THE
SENATORS DID NOT DISPUTE THE ADMINISTRATION'S STAND THE ACCORD
SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO WORK, AND MILITARY FORCE SHOULD BE
MAINTAINED IN THE GULF IN CASE IT DOES NOT.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT ASSURED THEM THE UNITED STATES WILL
NOT DELAY IF SADDAM HUSSEIN REFUSES TO CARRY OUT THE AGREEMENT.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
IF IRAQ INTERFERES WITH THE INSPECTIONS OR TRIES TO
UNDERMINE UNSCOM'S EFFORTS IN ANY WAY, WE WILL ACT
FIRMLY AND FORCEFULLY AND WITHOUT DELAY. WE WILL NOT
ALLOW SADDAM HUSSEIN TO TAKE US FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS.
/// END ACT ///
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SENATOR JESSE HELMS CRITICIZED THE U-N
SECRETARY GENERAL FOR PUTTING THE UNITED STATES IN A BAD POSITION
BY HIS DEAL IN BAGHDAD.
/// HELMS ACT ///
WE ARE IN THE DISGRACEFUL POSITION OF EITHER GOING ALONG
WITH WHATEVER DEAL MR. ANNAN BROUGHT HOME OR BEING
REGARDED AS THE BAD GUY WHO REJECTED PEACE AND INSISTED
ON WAR.
/// END ACT ///
SENATOR HELMS, A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, INSISTS SADDAM HUSSEIN
HAD ALREADY AGREED TO UN-RESTRICTED ACCESS FOR THE WEAPONS
INSPECTORS IN PREVIOUS U-N RESOLUTIONS IRAQ HAS VIOLATED.
CONSERVATIVES WERE NOT ALONE IN THEIR SKEPTICISM. DEMOCRAT
CHRISTOPHER DODD PRAISED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR USING DIPLOMACY,
BUT SPECULATES MILITARY FORCE MAY BECOME NECESSARY.
/// DODD ACT ///
I APPRECIATE YOUR CHARACTERIZATION OF THIS AS TENTATIVE
APPROVAL OF THIS AGREEMENT, AND THE EXPRESSIONS OF
CONCERN RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN (HELMS) AND OTHERS.
WHILE ONE MAY DISAGREE WITH THE RHETORIC CHOSEN, I THINK
[IT MAY] REFLECT THE FEELINGS OF MANY US HERE, WE ARE
VERY UNEASY ABOUT THIS AGREEMENT. I HOPE IT WORKS, AS
WE ALL DID. THAT AS A POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION
TO IRAQ [IT] WILL BE THE ANSWER. BUT GIVEN PAST HISTORY
IN DEALING WITH SADDAM HUSSEIN, ONE CANNOT BE ANYTHING
BUT DOUBTFUL, TO PUT IT MILDLY.
/// END ACT ///
IN A HEARING THAT OTHERWISE DEALT WITH THE ENLARGEMENT OF NATO,
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS ALL ALLIANCE MEMBERS EXCEPT
FRANCE, LUXEMBOURG, AND GREECE HAD AGREED TO HELP THE UNITED
STATES IN A MILITARY CONFRONTATION WITH IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/RAE
24-Feb-98 2:03 PM EST (1903 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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