DATE=11/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241706
TITLE=IRAQ/U-N / GULF REACT (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=KUWAIT CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: NEWSPAPERS IN IRAQ ARE CLAIMING VICTORY IN THE
GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO RESUME FULL COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS, THEREBY AVOIDING AIR STRIKES BY U-S LED FORCES.
REACTION IN THE VOLATILE GULF REGION HAS BEEN PRIMARILY ONE OF
RELIEF, AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT BY CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB IN
KUWAIT CITY.
TEXT: ARAB LEADERS (SUNDAY) WELCOMED IRAQ'S DECISION TO ALLOW
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS TO RESUME. ALTHOUGH SOME NOTED THE
CRISIS MAY NOT BE OVER, MOST FELT THAT A STEP HAD BEEN TAKEN BACK
FROM THE BRINK OF DISASTER.
THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, RASHED ABDULLAH
AL-NUAIMI, TOLD REPORTERS IRAQ'S DECISION WAS GOOD NEWS FOR ALL
GULF STATES. THE MINISTER, WHO WAS CHAIRING A MEETING OF THE
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL IN ABU DHABI, SAID THE DECISION SHOWED
REASON AND A CONCERN FOR THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE.
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF QATAR ISSUED A STATEMENT WELCOMING THE
IRAQI DECISION, AND SAYING IT HOPED IT WOULD LEAD TO A RESOLUTION
OF THE CRISIS AND THE LIFTING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.
SAUDI ARABIA REITERATED THE POLICY OF MOST ARAB GOVERNMENTS,
SAYING IT SUPPORTS A PEACEFUL, DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.
A STATEMENT BY THE DEFENSE MINISTER SAID THE KINGDOM WOULD NOT
ALLOW ITS TERRITORY TO BE USED TO LAUNCH AIR STRIKES AGAINST
IRAQ.
MOST GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION HAVE BLAMED THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP
FOR SPARKING THE LATEST CRISIS, WITH ITS DECISION TO SUSPEND
COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TWO WEEKS AGO. HOWEVER,
MOST SYMPATHIZE WITH THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE UNDER THE
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED SINCE THE GULF WAR ENDED EIGHT-YEARS
AGO. MOST BELIEVE THESE SHOULD BE LIFTED ON HUMANITARIAN
REASONS.
// REST OPT //
EDITORIAL REACTION IN THE REGION ECHOED OFFICIAL SENTIMENTS.
QATAR'S DAILY NEWSPAPER, ASHARO, SAID IRAQ'S DECISION WILL
PRESERVE STABILITY AND SECURITY IN THE REGION AND ELIMINATE THE
PRETEXT FOR WHAT IT CALLED THE FOREIGN MILITARY PRESENCE.
THE EMIRATES DAILY NEWSPAPER "AL-BAYAN" SAID IRAQ'S DECISION
PLACED A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO
INTERVENE BEFORE WHAT IT CALLED THE STORM ERUPTS AGAINST IRAQ.
IN KUWAIT, WHICH WAS OCCUPIED BY IRAQ FOR SEVEN MONTHS, THE
RESPONSE WAS A BIT SHARPER. THE KUWAIT TIMES, NOTING THIS WAS
NOT THE FIRST TIME IRAQ HAS DEFIED THE UNITED NATIONS, CALLED
IRAQ'S DECISION A SOLUTION WITH NO SUBSTANTIVE VALUE. THE
PUBLICATION CONCLUDED WITH A CALL FOR A NEW DYNAMIC IN DEALING
WITH WHAT IT CALLED IRAQI INTRANSIGENCE.
THE DAILY "AL-WATAN" WAS MORE BLUNT. IT PUBLISHED A CARTOON
SHOWING A BOOT KICKING THE IRAQI PRESIDENT OUT OF THE PICTURE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/DW/RAE
15-Nov-98 10:50 AM EST (1550 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
