DATE=11/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242041
TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITAIN'S FOREIGN OFFICE HAS GATHERED REPRESENTATIVES
FROM 16 IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS FOR A MEETING TO SEE IF THEY CAN
BETTER COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS TO OUST IRAQI LEADER SADDAM
HUSSEIN. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS THE DISSIDENTS
ALSO WILL MEET WITH U-S OFFICIALS IN LONDON.
TEXT: BRITAIN'S SECRETARY OF STATE FOR MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS,
DEREK FATCHETT, ASKED THE IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS TO COME UP WITH
CONCRETE PROPOSALS TO SEE HOW BRITAIN CAN HELP.
/// FATCHETT ACT ///
THERE WAS A STRONG CONSENSUS ON THE WAY FORWARD, A
RECOGNITION ON ALL PARTS THAT IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE TO
THINK THAT IRAQ WITHOUT SADDAM HUSSEIN WOULD NOT BE
BETTER THAN IT IS TODAY. AND I URGED THEM TO WORK
TOGETHER ON GETTING ACROSS THE POLITICAL MESSAGES ABOUT
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN IRAQ OVER THE PERIOD OF SADDAM
HUSSEIN'S RULE, AND ALSO TO GIVE A CLEAR VISION AS TO
WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE IF IRAQ IS WITHOUT
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LEADERSHIP.
/// END ACT ///
MR. FATCHETT SHIES AWAY FROM COMMITMENTS OF FINANCIAL OR MILITARY
ASSISTANCE, BUT SAYS BRITISH HELP WILL DEPEND ON THE DISSIDENTS'
PROGRAM OF ACTION.
MR. FATCHETT AND IRAQI DISSIDENTS LIKE HAMID AL-BAYATI STRESS A
NEW SENSE OF URGENCY FUELED BY SADDAM HUSSEIN'S LATEST
CONFRONTATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. MR. BAYATI REPRESENTS THE
SUPREME COUCIL OF ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN IRAQ.
/// BAYATI ACT ///
MR. FATCHETT EMPHASIZED THAT WE ARE IN A NEW STAGE AND
EVENTS ARE DEVELOPING QUICKLY, AND WE HAVE TO WORK
TOGETHER QUICKLY TO SEE A NEW IRAQ, A NEW GOVERNMENT IN
IRAQ SHORTLY, AND WE HOPE THAT WILL BE SOONER RATHER
THAN LATER.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// THE MEETING IN LONDON WAS NOT THE FIRST. THE
FOREIGN OFFICE HAS ORGANIZED SIMILAR GATHERINGS DURING THE PAST
TWO YEARS TO FIND COMMON GROUND AMONG THE DIFFERENT IRAQI
OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS. /// END OPT ///
NABIL MUSAWI OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS SAYS THE SHOW OF
UNITY AMONG THE OFTEN-COMPETING KURDISH, SHIITE, AND SUNNI
FACTIONS IS CRUCIAL TO THEIR PUSH TO OUST SADDAM HUSSEIN.
/// MUSAWI ACT ///
THE MAIN THRUST OF THE MEETING IS TO TRY TO DEMONSTRATE
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD THE UNITY OF THE IRAQI OPPOSITION.
EVERY SINGLE PARTY IN THAT MEETING MADE A STATEMENT TO
THE EFFECT THAT WE ALL AGREE ON THE MAIN AGENDA FOR THE
FUTURE OF IRAQ.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// MR. MUSAWI IS LOOKING FOR HELP TO REVITALIZE THE
I-N-C AS THE UMBRELLA OPPOSITION GROUP, RELAUNCH PROPAGANDA RADIO
BROADCASTS INTO IRAQ, AND INTENSIFY A CAMPAIGN TO PUBLICIZE
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. /// END OPT ///
THE EXILED IRAQI DISSIDENTS ARE DUE TO MEET TUESDAY IN LONDON
WITH THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT'S TOP OFFICIAL FOR MIDDLE EAST
AFFAIRS (MARTIN INDYK) . THE U-S CONGRESS HAS ALREADY APPROVED
NEARLY 100-MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP THE IRAQI OPPOSITION.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LMK/JWH
23-Nov-98 11:32 AM EST (1632 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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