DATE=11/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241753
TITLE=RUSSIA / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA HAS EVACUATED NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL FROM BAGHDAD
AND WARNED THAT THE IRAQ CRISIS IS FAR FROM OVER. VOA'S PETER
HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS A SENIOR RUSSIAN OFFICIAL SAYS IT IS
NOW UP TO IRAQ TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS.
TEXT: TWO PLANES CARRYING MORE THAN 100 RUSSIAN WOMEN AND
CHILDREN EVACUATED FROM BAGHDAD ARRIVED AT A MOSCOW AIRPORT
MONDAY.
THE DECISION TO REMOVE DEPENDENTS FROM THE POTENTIAL WAR ZONE WAS
MADE BEFORE IRAQ'S 11-HOUR CLIMBDOWN IN ITS CONFRONTATION WITH
THE UNITED NATIONS. BUT A SENIOR FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL IN
MOSCOW MONDAY SAID WHILE THE THREAT OF AIR STRIKES HAS EASED,
TENSION REMAINS HIGH.
DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER VICTOR POSUVALYUK, THE MINISTRY'S TOP
MIDDLE EAST EXPERT, SAID "VERY MUCH NOW DEPENDS ON IRAQ'S
BEHAVIOR." IN AN INTERVIEW WITH RUSSIA'S SEMI-OFFICIAL INTERFAX
NEWS AGENCY, MR. POSUVALYUK SAID "ALL THOSE WHO MAINTAIN CONTACT
WITH BAGHDAD WILL TRY TO PERSUADE IT TO SHOW WISDOM."
IRAQ WAS ON THE AGENDA FOR MOST ALL RUSSIA'S FOREIGN CONTACTS
MONDAY. PRIME MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV DISCUSSED THE SITUATION
WITH VISITING GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER. RUSSIAN
FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV HELD WHAT WERE DESCRIBED AS
"DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ON IRAQ" WITH HIS CHINESE COUNTERPART ON
THE SIDELINES OF THE ASIAN SUMMIT IN KUALA LUMPUR. AND DEFENSE
MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV BROUGHT UP THE SUBJECT IN CAIRO WITH
EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK.
THE DEFENSE MINISTER LATER REITERATED MOSCOW'S CALL FOR THE
IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AGAINST THE BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT.
RUSSIA HAS LONGSTANDING TIES TO IRAQ, AND HAS HELPED TO MEDIATE
IN PAST CONFRONTATIONS WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. BUT THROUGHOUT
THE CURRENT CRISIS, RUSSIA HAS CRITICIZED THE SADDAM HUSSEIN
GOVERNMENT FOR PROVOKING AN ESCALATION OF TENSIONS OVER U-N
WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
16-Nov-98 10:47 AM EST (1547 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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