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03 November 1998

TEXT: COHEN MEETING WITH BRITISH DEFENSE SEC. ROBERTSON ON IRAQ, 11/3

(Saddam Hussein must return to full compliance with UN resolutions)
(400)
Washington -- Secretary of Defense William Cohen met with his British
counterpart, George Robertson, in London November 3 to discuss Saddam
Hussein's decision to cease cooperation with UNSCOM and the IAEA.
They agreed that "it was crucial Saddam Hussein reverse his decision
and return to full compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions"
and that "all options remained on the table, including the use of
force if required to get Saddam Hussein to submit to the will of the
United Nations."
"Saddam Hussein has to realize that full compliance with the UN is the
only way open to Iraq to achieve the lifting of sanctions," Cohen and
Robertson said.
Following is the text of a Defense Department statement on the
meeting:
(Begin text)
STATEMENT ON MEETING BETWEEN GEORGE ROBERTSON AND BILL COHEN IN LONDON
ON 3 NOVEMBER TO DISCUSS IRAQ
Early this morning the US Defence Secretary Bill Cohen flew into
London on his way to the Gulf, to have urgent discussions with George
Robertson, the British Defence Secretary, about Saddam Hussein's open
defiance of the UN and his flouting of the agreement he signed with
Kofi Annan in February.
George Robertson and Bill Cohen noted that the recent Iraqi action had
been condemned unanimously by all members of the UN Security Council
on 31 October.
They were in complete agreement about the gravity of the situation,
and that it was crucial Saddam Hussein reverse his decision and return
to full compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions. Saddam
Hussein had given his agreement in writing to Kofi Annan that the UN
Special Commission would get the access it needed. He had now gone
back on that agreement.
George Robertson and Bill Cohen said: "Saddam Hussein has to realize
that full compliance with the UN is the only way open to Iraq to
achieve the lifting of sanctions."
There would now be further urgent consultations in the UN and with
allies, both in the Gulf and elsewhere, on the way ahead.
George Robertson and Bill Cohen agreed that all options remained on
the table, including the use of force if required to get Saddam
Hussein to submit to the will of the United Nations.
(End text)