DATE= MARCH 24, 1998
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-07707
TITLE= EDITORIAL: IRAQ'S OTHER U-N OBLIGATIONS
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
MARCH 24, 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:
IN RECENT MONTHS, MUCH ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TO IRAQ'S
FAILURE TO DISCLOSE AND ELIMINATE ALL OF ITS PROGRAMS TO PRODUCE
NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS AND BALLISTIC MISSILES.
UNDER A NEW AGREEMENT SECURED BY UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL
KOFI ANNAN, IRAQ HAS PROMISED U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS
UNCONDITIONAL, UNFETTERED AND UNRESTRICTED ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTRY. BUT EVEN IF IRAQI DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN KEEPS HIS
WORD ON WEAPONS, IRAQ WILL STILL BE FAR FROM COMPLYING WITH ITS
OBLIGATIONS UNDER U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
AS U-N SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN POINTED OUT, IRAQ HAS STILL
NOT COMPLIED WITH OTHER KEY PROVISIONS OF THE 1991 CEASE-FIRE
RESOLUTION IN THE PERSIAN GULF WAR. HUNDREDS OF KUWAITIS AND
THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS ARE STILL MISSING FROM IRAQ'S BRUTAL
OCCUPATION OF KUWAIT. BUT THE BAGHDAD REGIME CONTINUES TO
OBSTRUCT EFFORTS TO DISCOVER THEIR FATE. IN ADDITION, IRAQ HAS
FAILED TO RETURN MUCH OF THE KUWAITI PROPERTY THAT WAS LOOTED
DURING THE OCCUPATION.
THE BAGHDAD REGIME IS ALSO IN VIOLATION OF U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTION 6-8-8, WHICH REQUIRES AN END TO THE REPRESSION
OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE. IRAQIS CONTINUE TO BE DENIED THE MOST BASIC
RIGHTS. IN ADDITION, SADDAM HAS WAGED GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGNS
AGAINST KURDS IN NORTHERN IRAQ AND MARSH ARABS IN THE SOUTH. AND
IN THE PAST YEAR, REPORTS OF SUMMARY EXECUTIONS HAVE INCREASED
SIGNIFICANTLY. MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND SUCH KILLINGS WERE
REPORTED IN 1997.
AT THE END OF THE KUWAIT WAR, SADDAM FACED A SIMPLE CHOICE.
HIS REGIME COULD COMPLY WITH U-N RESOLUTIONS AND BRING AN END TO
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS -- ALONG WITH THE HARDSHIPS THEY CAUSE
THE IRAQI PEOPLE. OR HE COULD CONTINUE DEFYING THE U-N AND KEEP
IRAQ A PARIAH AMONG NATIONS. UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE IRAQI PEOPLE,
SADDAM CHOSE NON-COMPLIANCE. AS LONG AS THIS IS THE CASE, IRAQ
MUST REMAIN SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS.
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.
23-Mar-98 3:11 PM EST (2011 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
