DATE= MARCH 6, 1998
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07677
TITLE= EDITORIAL: UNITED NATIONS WARNING TO IRAQ
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
MARCH 6, 1998.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HAS TOLD IRAQ THAT IT
MUST "ACCORD IMMEDIATE, UNCONDITIONAL AND UNRESTRICTED ACCESS" TO
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS. IN A RESOLUTION ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY THIS
WEEK, THE COUNCIL WARNED THAT FAILURE TO COMPLY "WOULD HAVE
SEVEREST CONSEQUENCES FOR IRAQ." IN RECENT WEEKS, THE UNITED
STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN PREPARING TO TAKE MILITARY
ACTION IF THE BAGHDAD REGIME CONTINUES TO PREVENT THE WEAPONS
INSPECTORS FROM CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES UNDER U-N RESOLUTIONS.
AS A CONDITION OF ENDING THE PERSIAN GULF WAR IN 1991, IRAQ
WAS REQUIRED BY THE U-N TO ELIMINATE ALL OF ITS NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL
AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AND BALLISTIC MISSILES, AS WELL AS ANY
PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP THEM. BUT FOR SEVEN YEARS, THE BAGHDAD
REGIME HAS OBSTRUCTED U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. DESPITE IRAQ'S
EFFORTS, THE U-N INSPECTORS LEARNED THAT IRAQ DEPLOYED BIOLOGICAL
AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS AT THE TIME OF THE GULF WAR. THE INSPECTORS
HAVE FOUND AND DESTROYED IRAQI CHEMICAL WEAPONS, OPERATIONAL
MISSILES, AND A BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS FACTORY EQUIPPED TO PRODUCE
DEADLY ANTHRAX AND BOTULINUM.
BUT THE JOB IS NOT DONE. STOCKPILES OF CHEMICAL AND
BIOLOGICAL MUNITIONS AND SCUD-TYPE MISSILES REMAIN UNACCOUNTED
FOR. IRAQ STILL HAS THE CAPACITY TO REBUILD ITS WEAPONS
PROGRAMS. THAT IS WHY THE U.S. AND OTHER COUNTRIES COULD NOT
STAND BY WHEN THE BAGHDAD REGIME CONTINUED TO BLOCK U-N
INSPECTORS FROM VISITING SUSPECT SITES.
RECENTLY, U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN WENT TO BAGHDAD
AND OBTAINED A NEW COMMITMENT FROM IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN
TO ALLOW THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO VISIT ANY SITES THEY WISH TO
IN IRAQ. BUT AS PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON SAID, "WHAT REALLY
MATTERS IS IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE, NOT ITS STATED COMMITMENTS."
PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID THAT AN AUGMENTED U.S. MILITARY FORCE WILL
REMAIN IN THE PERSIAN GULF "UNTIL WE ARE SATISFIED THAT IRAQ IS
COMPLYING."
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE,
PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C,
20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND YOUR COMMENTS THROUGH OUR
INTERNET SITE AT WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR SEND US
A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
05-Mar-98 2:30 PM EST (1930 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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