DATE=2/25/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-39073
TITLE=IRAQ / INSPECTIONS
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=AMMAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IS CALLING FOR A SPEEDY
RETURN OF U-N INSPECTORS AND AN EQUALLY SPEEDY WITHDRAWAL OF U-S
TROOPS FROM THE GULF. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM
AMMAN, JORDAN, THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP IS CAPITALIZING ON THIS
WEEK'S AGREEMENT WITH THE U-N TO TRY TO IMPROVE ITS IMAGE IN THE
WEST.
TEXT: DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ IS APPEARING ON ONE T-V
NETWORK AFTER ANOTHER TO EMPHASIZE IRAQ'S NEW GOODWILL TOWARD U-N
INSPECTIONS. IN EACH INTERVIEW, HE CALLS FOR A SPEEDY RETURN OF
THE INSPECTORS AND SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE WORLD KNOWS WHAT
HE CALLS THE "TRUTH ABOUT IRAQ."
IT WAS BAGHDAD'S REFUSAL TO LET THE U-N EXPERTS INVESTIGATE EIGHT
PRESIDENTIAL SITES THAT PROVOKED THE LATEST CRISIS. IRAQ INSISTS
IT HAS FULLY COMPLIED WITH U-N DEMANDS TO SCRAP ITS ARSENALS OF
TOXIC WEAPONS. BAGHDAD OFFICIALS ARGUE FOR LIFTING ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS THAT HAVE CRIPPLED IRAQ'S ECONOMY OVER THE PAST SEVEN
YEARS.
U-N INSPECTORS HAVE YET TO VERIFY IRAQ'S CLAIMS. AND, WITHOUT
THAT VERIFICATION, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL WILL NOT LIFT THE
EMBARGO.
STILL, FORMER JORDANIAN DIPLOMAT IBRAHIM IZZADIN SAYS THE LATEST
CRISIS HAS GIVEN IRAQ A CHANCE TO BOOST ITS WORLDWIDE IMAGE.
//IZZADIN ACT//
THE FACT THAT HER (IRAQ'S) PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE
WORLD AGENDA IS ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT THING. THE FACT
THAT THERE ARE THREE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED
NATIONS THAT SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY FROM THE UNITED
STATES AND BRITAIN -- MAINLY RUSSIAN, CHINA AND FRANCE,
WHICH IS ANOTHER WAY OF BALANCING THINGS. AND FINALLY I
BELIEVE NOW THERE WILL BE TALK ABOUT LIFTING THE
SANCTIONS.
//END ACT//
NEWS STORIES AND PICTURES OF STARVING IRAQI CHILDREN HAVE ALSO
HELPED INCREASE WORLD SYMPATHY FOR ORDINARY IRAQIS WHO HAVE
SUFFERED UNDER SEVEN YEARS OF CRIPPLING SANCTIONS.
MEANWHILE, IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER IS CALLING FOR WASHINGTON
TO PULL AMERICAN TROOPS OUT OF THE GULF. MR. AZIZ TELLS HIS T-V
INTERVIEWERS THAT THE UNITED STATES OVERREACTED BY THREATENING
THE MILITARY OPTION. U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS
DIPLOMACY, BACKED BY A SHOW OF FORCE, CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE THAN
DIPLOMACY ALONE.
STILL, ANALYSTS IN THE REGION SAY IRAQ HAS BENEFITED FROM THE
OVERWHELMING ARAB OPPOSITION TO THE U-S MILITARY OPTION. THE
UNITED STATES WAS NOT ABLE TO MUSTER MUCH REGIONAL SUPPORT -- IN
SHARP CONTRAST TO THE 1991 GULF WAR, WHEN MOST ARAB STATES JOINED
THE ANTI-IRAQ COALITION AFTER ITS INVASION OF KUWAIT.
POLITICAL COMMENTATOR LABIB QAMHAWI SAYS NO MATTER WHAT IRAQ'S
NEIGHBORS FEEL ABOUT SADDAM HUSSEIN, THEY WORRY ABOUT THE
CONSEQUENCES OF A STARVED OR WAR-TORN IRAQ.
//QAMHAWI ACT//
PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FUTURE. AND
THEY FEAR THAT IF IRAQ IS HIT AND WEAKENED STILL FURTHER
OR THREATENED WITH PARTITION, THE AREA WILL BE
DESTABILIZED. FOR JORDANIANS, THEY FEEL THAT THEIR ONLY
SOURCE OF INCOME IS THEIR TRADE WITH IRAQ, SO IF THEIR
(TRADE) LINE IS CUT, PEOPLE WILL STARVE HERE.
//END ACT//
IRAQ'S PUBLIC RELATIONS CAMPAIGN IS ALSO LIKELY TO CAPITALIZE ON
THE SIMMERING ARAB HOSTILITY TOWARD AMERICAN POLICIES IN THE
MIDDLE EAST -- AND ITS ALLIANCE WITH ISRAEL. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/PCF
25-Feb-98 9:15 AM EST (1415 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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