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DATE=        MARCH 22, 1998
TYPE=        EDITORIAL
NUMBER=      0-07703
TITLE=       EDITORIAL:  COHEN -- IRAQ CRISIS NOT OVER
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST 
MARCH 22, 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:
    UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS RECENTLY RETURNED TO IRAQ. 
IT WAS THEIR FIRST VISIT SINCE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN 
SECURED AN AGREEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE, UNCONDITIONAL, AND 
UNRESTRICTED ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.  UNDER THE AGREEMENT,
WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE TO HAVE ACCESS TO ALL SITES IN IRAQ.  THAT
INCLUDES HUGE PRESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES AND MANY OTHER SITES THAT 
THE BAGHDAD REGIME HAS BLOCKED U-N TEAMS FROM VISITING.
    AS SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WILLIAM COHEN SAID, "IF FULFILLED BY 
IRAQ, THIS AGREEMENT WILL AT LAST GIVE THE [U-N] INSPECTORS THE 
ACCESS THEY NEED TO FIND AND DESTROY IRAQ'S CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL 
AND NUCLEAR MATERIALS AND MUNITIONS; TO FIND AND DESTROY THE 
MISSILES TO DELIVER THESE WEAPONS; AND TO INSTITUTE A SYSTEM FOR 
LONG-TERM MONITORING TO ENSURE THAT IRAQ DOES NOT RECONSTITUTE OR
REBUILD MORE."
    BUT THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ IS NOT OVER.  YEARS OF IRAQI DELAYS,
DECEPTION AND DECEIT HAVE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IRAQI DICTATOR 
SADDAM HUSSEIN CANNOT BE TRUSTED.  AS MR. COHEN SAID, "IRAQ MAY 
STILL BE HIDING MUNITIONS AND OPERATIONAL MISSILES WITH WARHEADS 
FILLED WITH DEADLY CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL AGENTS."
      IRAQ MUST PRODUCE HARD EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT ALL ITS 
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.  AS 
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE COHEN SAID, "ONLY WHEN SADDAM IS IN FULL 
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT U-N RESOLUTIONS WILL THERE BE 
SANCTIONS RELIEF FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUFFERED SO 
NEEDLESSLY FOR HIS INTRANSIGENCE.  IN SHORT, SADDAM STILL HAS 
MANY PROMISES TO KEEP AND THE INSPECTORS STILL HAVE MILES TO GO 
BEFORE IRAQ CAN INSIST ON SANCTIONS RELIEF.  THAT IS WHY THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST REMAIN VIGILANT.  AND THAT IS WHY 
[THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES] WILL MAINTAIN OUR FORCES IN 
THE REGION AT THE READY."
ANNCR:
    THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE U.S. 
GOVERNMENT.  IF YOU HAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, 
V-O-A, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A.  YOU MAY ALSO COMMENT AT 
WWW-DOT-VOA-DOT-GOV-SLASH-EDITORIALS, OR  FAX US AT (202) 
619-1043.
20-Mar-98 12:17 PM EST (1717 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.