DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243200
TITLE=IRAQ / DIPLOMACY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS CRITICS OF U-S POLICY
TOWARD IRAQ HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE AND
THEY SAY THEY ARE PLEASED WITH THE LEVEL OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
FOR U-S ACTIONS. FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING
REPORTS.
TEXT: SINCE THE U-S LED BOMBING RAIDS BEGAN, PRESIDENT CLINTON
AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAVE BEEN TELEPHONING
WORLD LEADERS, TRYING TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR U-S POLICY.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE HAS HAD TELEPHONE
CONVERSATIONS WITH MORE THAN 20 FOREIGN LEADERS. SHE SAYS THE
RESPONSE FROM MOST HAS BEEN GRATIFYING.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT 1 ///
THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CRITICAL PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT THE
REACTION SO FAR SERVES TO UNDERSCORE HOW ISOLATED SADDAM
(HUSSEIN) IS IN THE ARAB WORLD.
/// END ACT ///
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON PHONED THE LEADERS OF
ISRAEL, EGYPT, JORDAN AND FRANCE DURING THE DAY, FOR TALKS THAT
ARE DESCRIBED AS CONSTRUCTIVE.
MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS A NUMBER OF U-S ALLIES, INCLUDING CANADA, THE
E-U, JAPAN, KOREA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND OTHERS, HAVE
OFFERED STRONG EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FOR U-S POLICY.
SHE SAYS MOST COUNTRIES AGREE THAT IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRIGGERING THE CURRENT CRISIS BECAUSE OF HIS
REFUSAL TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS EVEN FRANCE, WHICH HAS EXPRESSED REGRET THAT A
PEACEFUL SOLUTION COULD NOT BE FOUND, AGREES THAT IRAQ TRIGGERED
THE CURRENT CRISIS.
MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS THE TWO HARSHEST CRITICS OF U-S MILITARY
ACTION, RUSSIA AND CHINA, HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PERSUADE SADDAM
HUSSEIN TO COMPLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT 2 ///
THE RUSSIANS AND THE CHINESE ARE CRITICAL BUT OVER THE
PAST YEAR THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY VIABLE
ALTERNATIVE.
/// END ACT ///
MS. ALBRIGHT, WHO HAS SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THE PHONE WITH
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV, SAYS SHE IS NOT SURPRISED
BY THE REACTION FROM RUSSIA. HOWEVER, SHE SAYS SHE IS
DISAPPOINTED BY THEIR CRITICISM OF CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR,
RICHARD BUTLER, WHOSE REPORT ON IRAQI NON-COMPLIANCE HELPED
TRIGGER THE U-S AIR STRIKES.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT 3 ///
WHILE I REGRET THEIR ATTACK ON CHAIRMAN BUTLER, ITS LIKE
AS I'VE SAID, THEY ARE TRYING TO SHOOT THE MESSENGER
HERE. THE FAULT, AND THE PROBLEM HERE IS SADDAM
HUSSEIN. THERE IS NO OTHER PROBLEM HERE BEYOND SADDAM
HUSSEIN'S NON-COMPLIANCE.
/// END ACT ///
THE SECRETARY (OF STATE) SAYS THE UNITED STATES REMAINS COMMITTED
TO GETTING SADDAM HUSSEIN TO COMPLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS.
STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO
TRY TO CONTAIN SADDAM HUSSEIN BUT THEY ARE UNSURE IF U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS WILL EVER BE ALLOWED BACK IN.
IN THE SHORT TERM, THEY SAY THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN WILL DEGRADE
IRAQ'S ABILITY TO MAKE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. OVER THE
LONG TERM, THEY SAY THE GOAL IS TO GET RID OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, A
PROSPECT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE WILL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON.
(SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/WDC
17-Dec-98 5:25 PM EST (2225 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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