DATE=3/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227979
TITLE=CLINTON / U-N / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON SAYS HE WOULD CONSULT WITH U-N ALLIES
BEFORE TAKING ANY MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, BUT HE MAINTAINS
THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT NEED U-N APPROVAL. HE MADE HIS
COMMENTS AT THE START OF A MEETING WITH U-N SECRETARY GENERAL
KOFI ANNAN. V-O-A WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT DEBORAH TATE
REPORTS.
TEXT: MOST OF THE 15 MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL BELIEVE
THE AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE (U-N) SECRETARY-GENERAL AND
IRAQ LAST MONTH DOES NOT GIVE THE UNITED STATES AUTOMATIC
AUTHORIZATION TO USE FORCE AGAINST BAGHDAD IF THE IRAQIS DO NOT
MAKE GOOD ON THEIR COMMITMENT TO OPEN UP ALL SUSPECTED WEAPONS
SITES.
OVER THE WEEKEND, THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SAID THE UNITED STATES IS
REQUIRED TO CONSULT WITH ALLIES BEFORE ANY MILITARY ACTION TAKES
PLACE.
AT A PHOTO OPPORTUNITY WITH MR. ANNAN, MR. CLINTON ARGUED THE
UNITED STATES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO USE FORCE. BUT AT THE SAME
TIME, HE SOUGHT TO PLAY DOWN ANY DIFFERENCES WITH THE U-N CHIEF.
/// CLINTON ACT ///
WE BELIEVE THE RESOLUTION GIVES US THE AUTHORITY TO TAKE
WHATEVER ACTIONS ARE NECESSARY. BUT OF COURSE WE WOULD
CONSULT. IT WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE THAT WE WOULD NOT DO
THAT. WE DO THAT ALL THE TIME ANYWAY. I HAVE SPENT AN
AWFUL LOT OF TIME ON THE TELEPHONE WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF
WORLD LEADERS IN THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE THIS
DIFFICULTY HAS UNFOLDED, SO I AM NOT SURE THERE IS A
CONFLICT BETWEEN OUR POSITIONS.
// END ACT ///
MR. ANNAN ALSO PLAYED DOWN ANY APPEARANCE OF CONFLICT WITH MR.
CLINTON.
/// ANNAN ACT ///
CONSULTATION IS ONGOING PROCESS AND PART OF THE WAY WE
DO BUSINESS IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND I AGREE
WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT HAS SAID.
/// END ACT ///
THE AGREEMENT BROKERED BY MR. ANNAN WITH IRAQ HAS COME UNDER SOME
CRITICISM FROM KEY REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
TRENT LOTT HAS CALLED IT A "SELLOUT."
MR. CLINTON TOOK ISSUE WITH SUCH CRITICISM, ARGUING THAT THE
AGREEMENT PRESERVES THE INTEGRITY OF INSPECTION PROCESS. BUT HE
SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST REMAIN VIGILANT TO ENSURE
IRAQI COMPLIANCE.
/// REST OPT ///
BESIDES DISCUSSING HIS AGREEMENT WITH IRAQ, MR. ANNAN ALSO CAME
TO WASHINGTON TO PRESS THE UNITED STATES TO PAY ONE-POINT-THREE
BILLION DOLLARS IN BACK DUES TO THE WORLD BODY. THAT FIGURE IS
EXPECTED TO GROW TO ONE-POINT-SEVEN BILLION BY THE END OF THIS
YEAR.
CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS ARE INSISTING THAT THEY WILL
LINK ANTI-ABORTION PROVISIONS TO ANY LEGISLATION COVERING THE U-N
FUNDING. A SIMILAR MOVE LAST YEAR DEFEATED A MEASURE ON PAYMENT
OF OF DUES.
MR. ANNAN, AS HE TRAVELLED TO WASHINGTON FROM NEW YORK EARLIER
WEDNESDAY, CALLED ON MR. CLINTON TO -- IN HIS WORDS -- BE MORE
AGGRESSIVE WITH CONGRESS IN PERSUADING IT TO PAY THE DUES.
WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE PRESIDENT IS WORKING
WITH CONGRESS IN THE ISSUE. HE NOTED THAT THE UNITED STATES --
BY NOT PAYING THE DUES -- HAS LOST OUT ON THE CHANCE TO LOWER ITS
ASSESSMENT RATE.
THE UNITED STATES IS CURRENTLY ASSESSED AT 25 PERCENT OF THE COST
OF MANY U-N-RELATED ACTIVITIES -- A RATE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
LOWERED TO 22 PERCENT.
MR. ANNAN LATER WEDNESDAY IS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE DIRECTLY WITH
REPUBLICAN SENATOR JESSE HELMS, WHO HAS LED THE EFFORT TO
WITHHOLD PAYMENT OF BACK DUES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAT/WDC/JO
11-Mar-98 5:11 PM EST (2211 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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