DATE=11/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242052
TITLE=COHEN-IRAQ-L
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS IRAQ MUST PROVIDE
DOCUMENTS ABOUT ITS WEAPONS PROGRAMS AS WELL AS OPENING WORK
SITES TO U-N INSPECTORS. HE SAYS IF BAGHDAD BLOCKS ACCESS TO
EITHER PAPER OR PLACES, IRAQ WILL FACE A RENEWED THREAT OF AIR
STRIKES. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON.
TEXT: THE LATEST CONFRONTATION BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND THE UNITED
NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ERUPTED WHEN IRAQI OFFICIALS REFUSED TO
PROVIDE DOCUMENTS ABOUT CHEMICAL WEAPONS TO U-N INSPECTORS.
IRAQI OFFICIALS SAID SOME OF THE PAPERS WERE IRRELEVANT, OTHERS
DID NOT EXIST, OR HAD BEEN DESTROYED.
U-N INSPECTORS SAY THEY THINK THE DOCUMENTS ARE A LIST OF
CHEMICAL WEAPONS IRAQ USED IN ITS WAR WITH IRAN IN THE 1980'S.
INSPECTORS SAY THE PAPERS WILL HELP THEM DETERMINE IF IRAQ STILL
HAS SUCH WEAPONS.
DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN SAYS BAGHDAD HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS TO
ANSWER ABOUT ITS WEAPONS PROGRAMS, AND THESE DOCUMENTS ARE
THOUGHT TO HAVE MANY OF THE ANSWERS.
///COHEN ACT ////
WHEN WERE THESE CHEMICALS, AND BIOLOGICALS DESTROYED,
WHERE AND UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES? WHAT RECORDS WERE
MADE OF THE DESTRUCTION EFFORTS? ALL OF THAT WOULD BE
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT THE
IRAQI'S ARE COOPERATING WITH UNSCOM SO IT CAN LEAD TO A
DETERMINATION THAT THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECUITY
COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
/// END ACT ///
MR. COHEN SAYS THE UNITED STATES HAS ENOUGH 'MILITARY CAPABILITY'
WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF IRAQ TO CARRY OUT 'ANY MILITARY
OPTION' ORDERED BY THE PRESIDENT.
/// COHEN ACT ///
I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON WHAT WILL PRECIPITATE AIR
STRIKES. I THINK IT IS UP TO IRAQ TO FULLY COOPERATE
WITH UNSCOM. A FAILUTE TO DO SO CERTAINLY LEAVES OPEN
THE OPTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE PRESIDENT WOULD ORDER A
MILITARY OPTION IN THE FUTURE.
/// END ACT ///
THIS DISPUTE OVER ACCESS TO IRAQI DOCUMENTS IS JUST THE LATEST IN
A SERIES OF CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND THE U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL, AS U-N EXPERTS TRY TO FIND BANNED IRAQI WEAPONS OR
EVIDENCE OF WEAPONS PROGRAMS.
SEVEN YEARS AGO, IRAQ PROMISED TO GET RID OF THE FACILITIES TO
MAKE CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND THE MISSILES
NEEDED TO DELIVER THEM, UNDER THE AGREEMENT THAT ENDED THE GULF
WAR.
LAST FEBRUARY, IRAQ AVERTED THREATENED ATTACK BY RENEWING ITS
PROMISE OF FULL COOPERATION IN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE U-N
SECRETARY GENERAL.
TEN DAYS AGO, DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN SAYS THE UNITED STATES CAME
'VERY CLOSE' TO LAUNCHING MASSIVE AIR AND MISSILE STRIKES AGAINST
IRAQ. THE ATTACK WAS ABRUPTLY STOPPED WHEN BAGHDAD ONCE AGAIN
OFFERED TO STOP BLOCKING ACCESS TO WEAPONS SITES AND INFORMATION
ABOUT IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. (SIGNED).
NEB/JR/WDC/PT
23-Nov-98 3:30 PM EST (2030 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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