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02 November 1998

EXCERPT: PRESIDENT CLINTON REMARKS ON IRAQ, NOVEMBER 1

(Saddam Hussein's actions are clear violation of UNSC resolutions)
(510)
Baltimore, Maryland -- Saddam Hussein's suspension of cooperation with
UNSCOM and the IAEA is "a clear violation of the U.N. Security Council
resolutions. I, personally, am very pleased that the U.N. Security
Council, including some people that I think have been a little
tolerant with him in the past, strongly condemned what he did,"
President Clinton said November 1.
"From my point of view we should keep all our options open, examine
the nature of the action and where we are and then do what's best for
the integrity of the United Nations and the interests, the security
interests of the people of the United States," the President said in
an interview with April Ryan of American Urban Radio Network after
attending the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
Following is an excerpt of the President's remarks on Iraq from the
transcript of the interview:
(Begin excerpt)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
November 2, 1998
INTERVIEW OF THE PRESIDENT BY APRIL RYAN OF AMERICAN URBAN RADIO
NETWORK
Pastor's Parlor
New Psalmist Baptist Church
Baltimore, Maryland
November 1, 1998
3:25 P.M.  EST
Q: Okay, last question. There are some movements, or non-movements, in
Iraq now. What's the next step through the administration for Saddam
Hussein?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we're examining that now. As a matter of fact,
this afternoon my national security team is meeting. I've already had
a couple of briefings about it. I think it's important to go back to
the basics. First of all, let's look at the basics.
At the end of the Gulf War, as part of the conditions of peace, Saddam
Hussein agreed to suspend his biological, chemical and nuclear
programs, to be subject to inspections to see that that was done and
to see that all the materials were destroyed. We were actually making,
I thought, quite a bit of progress in that inspection after the last
little crisis we had. And we were moving toward a resolution of some
of the issues when he first suspended the inspections and now,
apparently, has decided to terminate his participation in the U.N.
inspection system.
It's a clear violation of the commitments that he made, a clear
violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions. I, personally, am
very pleased that the U.N. Security Council, including some people
that I think have been a little tolerant with him in the past,
strongly condemned what he did. From my point of view we should keep
all our options open, examine the nature of the action and where we
are and then do what's best for the integrity of the United Nations
and the interests, the security interests of the people of the United
States.
I think that's all I should say about it now. I want to let my people
meet, let them give me some advice and see where we go from here.
(End excerpt)