DATE=4/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230256
TITLE=IRAQ/COHEN/NETANYAHU (L)
BYLINE=STEVE NORMAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQ HAS ISSUED A NEW DEMAND CALLING FOR AN END TO U-N
SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER ITS 1990 INVASION OF NEIGHBORING KUWAIT.
STEVE NORMAN REPORTS U-S AND MIDDLE EAST OFFICIALS REACTED TO THE
IRAQI DEMAND DURING SEPARATE APPEARANCES ON THE U-S TELEVISION
PROGRAM "FOX NEWS SUNDAY".
TEXT: THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL CONSIDER THE UNITED
NATIONS' SANCTIONS VOID IF THE SECURITY COUNCIL DOES NOT TAKE
STEPS SOON TO LIFT THEM.
IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED AL-SAHAF TOLD V-O-A HIS COUNTRY
HAS MET THE CONDITIONS NEEDED TO LIFT THE SANCTIONS. THOSE
CONDITIONS CALL FOR IRAQ TO GET RID OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION.
DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN, APPEARING ON U-S TELEVISION,
SAID U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS WILL ISSUE A REPORT THIS WEEK
INDICATING THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY BAGHDAD HAS MET THE
CONDITIONS WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LIFTING OF SANCTIONS
// COHEN ACTUALITY //
THEY INDICATE SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS NOT FULFILLED HIS
OBLIGATION UNDER EXISTING RESOLUTIONS (WITH THE U-N) AND
EVEN THE MOST RECENT AGREEMENT WITH (U-N SECRETARY
GENERAL) KOFI ANNAN. NAMELY, HE (SADDAM HUSSEIN) HAS AN
OBLIGATION TO PROVE TO THE INSPECTORS THAT HE HAS
DESTROYED WHAT (WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION) HE HAS
ADMITTED, IN THE PAST, THAT HE HAD.
// END ACTUALITY //
SECRETARY COHEN SAID IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN ONCE DENIED HE
HAD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, THEN AFTER THE PERSIAN GULF WAR,
ADMITTED HE HAD MISSILES WITH CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARHEADS.
THE SECRETARY SAID THE IRAQI LEADER IS NOW OFFERING A DIFFERENT
STORY.
// COHEN ACTUALITY //
HE (SADDAM HUSSEIN) HAS CLAIMED HE HAS DESTROYED ALL OF
THAT. THE UNSCOM (U-N WEAPONS) INSPECTORS HAVE
INDICATED THERE IS NO CREDIBLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT,
SO HE HAS TO PROVE, IN FACT, HE HAS DONE WHAT HE CLAIMS
HE HAS DONE TO SHOW WHERE, WHEN, HOW, AND UNDER WHAT
CIRCUMSTANCES THESE SYSTEMS WERE DESTROYED.
// END ACTUALITY //
ALSO APPEARING ON U-S TELEVISION WAS ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, WHO WAS ASKED IF HE IS PLEASED WITH THE U-S
POSITION REGARDING WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN LIGHT OF IRAQ'S
PREVIOUS THREATS AND ATTACKS ON ISRAEL.
// NETANYAHU ACTUALITY //
I DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, BUT I AM
SURE THAT THE UNITED STATES WILL MAINTAIN THE SAME
RESOLVE WHEN THE TEST COMES BECAUSE THE THREAT IS COMMON
TO BOTH OF US AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES AS WELL,
INCLUDING THE ARAB COUNTRIES. SADDAM IS A GENERAL
MENACE, NOT JUST AN ANTI-ISRAEL MENACE.
// END ACTUALITY //
THERE IS WORD FROM THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WHICH INDICATES A RUSSIAN
PROPOSAL TO DECLARE IRAQ FREE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS IS NOT ENOUGH TO
AVERT A NEW CRISIS BETWEEN BAGHDAD, THE UNITED NATIONS, AND THE
UNITED STATES. IRAQ SAYS A U-N ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROPOSAL WOULD
NOT KEEP BAGHDAD FROM CONTINUING ITS EFFORTS TO LIFT THE U-N
SANCTIONS.
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS SET TO DISCUSS THE SANCTIONS WHEN IT
MEETS MONDAY. (SIGNED)
NEB/SRN/RAE
26-Apr-98 1:16 PM EDT (1716 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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