DATE=2/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227286
TITLE=CONGRESS-IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THERE IS TOUGH TALK COMING FROM CAPITOL HILL ON THE
U-N DEAL WITH IRAQ. SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER TRENT LOTT SAYS
THE WHITE HOUSE SHOULD REJECT THE AGREEMENT. BUT AS V-O-A'S
PAULA WOLFSON REPORTS, THE ADMINISTRATION NOW SAYS IT WANTS TO
GIVE THE AGREEMENT A CHANCE.
TEXT: THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER DENOUNCES THE AGREEMENT. HE
SAYS IT IS FLAWED AND COULD KILL THE ENTIRE U-N ARMS INSPECTION
PROCESS.
///LOTT ACT////
THE DEAL NEGOTIATED BY U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN
WITH IRAQ DOES NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE THREAT POSED
BY SADDAM HUSSEIN.
///END ACT///
THE COMMENTS CAME IN A SPEECH TO HIS SENATE COLLEAGUES. AT
FIRST, MR. LOTT SPOKE IN MEASURED, DIPLOMATIC TONES. BUT THE
MORE HE TALKED, THE MORE EVIDENT HIS ANGER BECAME.
///LOTT ACT///
THE SECRETARY GENERAL, I FEAR, HAS HARMED THE
CREDIBILITY OF THE UNITED NATIONS BY CUTTING WHAT
APPEARS TO BE A SPECIAL DEAL WITH THE MOST FLAGRANT
VIOLATOR OF UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS PROBABLY IN
HISTORY. INSTEAD OF STANDING ON PRINCIPLE, HE SAT WITH
THE UNPRINCIPLED AND GAVE HIM WHAT HE WANTED.
///END ACT////
SENATOR LOTT SAID IT IS NOT TOO LATE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE TO
OPPOSE THE DEAL. BUT DURING AN APPEARANCE BEFORE A HOUSE
SUBCOMMITTEE (COMMERCE-STATE-JUSTICE APPROPRIATIONS), SECRETARY
OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT LEFT NO DOUBT THE ADMINISTRATION
WANTS TO GIVE IT A CHANCE.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
I AM AWARE THAT SOME IN CONGRESS HAVE SAID WE SHOULD
REJECT THIS AGREEMENT. WE BELIEVE THE WISER POLICY IS TO
TEST THE AGREEMENT.
///END ACT///
JUST A FEW HOURS BEFORE SECRETARY ALBRIGHT ARRIVED ON CAPITOL
HILL, AN EXILED IRAQI OPPOSITION LEADER MADE A PERSONAL APPEAL TO
CONGRESS TO BACK HIS EFFORTS TO TOPPLE SADDAM HUSSEIN. AHMAD
CHALABI (SHA-LA-BEE) -- THE HEAD OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS
-- MET OVER LUNCH WITH ABOUT TEN REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMEN OF SEVERAL KEY
COMMITTEES.
///CHALABI ACT///
THE U-S WANTS IRAQ TO BE FREE OF WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION. WE SAY THAT THIS CANNOT HAPPEN WHILE
SADDAM IS IN POWER. HELP US TO GET RID OF SADDAM.
///END ACT///
MR. CHALABI WAS HOSTED BY CALIFORNIA CONGRESSMAN CHRISTOPHER COX,
WHO HEADS A GROUP OF LAWMAKERS WHO CONDUCT POLICY RESEARCH FOR
HOUSE REPUBLICANS. MR. COX TOLD REPORTERS THERE IS INTEREST IN
CONGRESS IN DIFFERENT WAYS THE UNITED STATES CAN SHOW SUPPORT FOR
OPPOSITION FORCES IN IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/WDC/KL
25-Feb-98 3:15 PM EST (2015 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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