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16 November 1998

INDYK PRESS BRIEFING NOVEMBER 16 ON CRISIS WITH IRAQ

(Says U.N. arms inspectors will resume work immediately) (560)
By Peter Sawchyn
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near
Eastern Affairs, says U.N. weapons inspectors will have an "early
opportunity" to test Iraq's latest pledge to resume full cooperation
with the U.N. Special Commission that oversees arms inspection in
Iraq.
"UNSCOM inspectors will be coming back into Iraq tomorrow to resume
their work," Indyk said November 16 at a Foreign Press Center briefing
for journalists covering Middle East affairs.
As such, Indyk said there will be an "early opportunity to test Saddam
Hussein's right to live up to the pledge he has made."
Reiterating President Clinton's remarks Sunday, Indyk said the United
States has set up "clear benchmarks" for what Saddam Hussein must do
to show that he is fully cooperating with U.N. weapons inspectors.
They include:
-- allowing inspectors to visit any suspected weapons site;
-- turning over all documents related to the production of the VX
nerve agent, including the "infamous Air Force" document that lists
the chemical munitions Iraq used during its war with Iran;
-- stopping all interference with the independence or professional
expertise of the arms inspectors, especially the "character
assassination" that Iraq has engaged in;
-- and resolution of all outstanding issues raised by UNSCOM and IAEA
(International Atomic Energy Agency) which Iraq has not fulfilled.
"As I have said, we will be able to test quite quickly whether Saddam
Hussein is ready to live up to these kinds of requirements," Indyk
said. "And we are, of course, still in a position to respond
forcefully if necessary. We will remain vigilant in that regard and
poised to act."
"We've been through this before," Indyk continued. "We've seen this
movie, and we've seen how it ended in the past. And if it ends that
way again, as (U.N. Secretary General) Kofi Annan has said, next time
there may not be time for diplomacy to work."
Indyk said the United States was very gratified that this time during
the crisis with Iraq, the U.S. enjoyed the support of "just about the
entire world" for its demand that Saddam come back into compliance
with U.N. resolutions.
In particular, Indyk said, the U.S. was gratified by the support of
the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council and Egypt and Syria, that
joined together to demand Saddam's compliance, and insist that the
consequences of non-compliance would be solely Iraq's responsibility.
"I think this is the best measure of just how sick and tired the whole
world has become of this game Saddam Hussein plays," Indyk said.
For the long-term, Indyk said the U.S. will "step up" its support for
the Iraqi opposition to help bring about a change in government that
is more representative of "the desires and aspirations" of the Iraqi
people.
"One that is respectful of international law and obligations. One that
we can work to bring Iraq back into the community of nations and
resume its rightful place," Indyk said.
Indyk said the U.S. support will include providing funds for the
purposes of helping the Iraqi opposition organize, helping them take
their case to world opinion, helping to promote the war crimes
process, the prosecution of Saddam Hussein as a war criminal, helping
to broadcast into Iraq through Radio Free Iraq.