DATE=12/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243116
TITLE=IRAQ / ALBRIGHT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT THEY HAVE FOR THEIR POLICY TOWARD IRAQ,
DESPITE THE OPPOSITION THAT RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE HAVE
EXPRESSED ABOUT THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE. FROM THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING REPORTS.
TEXT: SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS THE UNITED
STATES IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE SUPPORT IT HAS IN THE
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
REACTING TO EXPRESSIONS OF OPPOSITION TO THE U-S AIRSTRIKES BY
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, MS. ALBRIGHT SAID
ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREED ON THE NEED FOR IRAQ TO COMPLY WITH
U-N RESOLUTIONS. BUT SHE SAID NONE OF THE CRITICS HAD A BETTER
SOLUTION.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT 1 ///
I THINK THAT BASICALLY THAT THEY HAVE FELT THAT SADDAM
HUSSEIN NEEDS TO COMPLY AND THEY HAVE APPROACHED IT FROM
A DIFFERENT WAY, BUT THE TRUTH IS THEY HAVE NO ANSWERS
AS TO HOW TO MAKE THEM COMPLY.
/// END ACT ///
THE SECRETARY OF STATE DEFENDED THE DECISION TO LAUNCH MILITARY
STRIKES, BY SAYING THE UNITED STATES HAD WORKED HARD FOR A
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT 2 ///
AS THE UNITED STATES' CHIEF DIPLOMAT, I CAN TELL YOU
THAT WE EXHAUSTED EVERY DIPLOMATIC APPROACH AND EVERY
POSSIBILITY. MONTH AFTER MONTH, WE HAVE GIVEN IRAQ
CHANCE AFTER CHANCE, TO MOVE FROM CONFRONTATION TO
COOPERATION, AND WE HAVE EXPLORED AND EXHAUSTED EVERY
DIPLOMATIC OPTION. WE WILL SEE NOW WHETHER FORCE CAN
PERSUADE IRAQ'S MISGUIDED LEADERS TO REVERSE COURSE AND
ACCEPT AT LONG LAST THE NEED TO ABIDE BY THE RULE OF LAW
AND THE WILL OF THE WORLD.
/// END ACT ///
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, MS. ALBRIGHT ALSO EXPRESSED SOME
FRUSTRATION THAT OPPOSITION REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HAVE
BECOME INCREASINGLY CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT AS HE CARRIES OUT HIS
FOREIGN POLICY.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT 3 ///
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT HAS UPSET ME IS THAT THE RULES THAT
HAVE EXISTED FOR MANY YEARS ABOUT CRITICIZING THE
PRESIDENT WHEN HE IS ABROAD SEEM TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN. I
FOUND THAT VERY UNSEEMLY AND UNBECOMING TO MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS, I DO THINK IT WOULD BE VERY NICE IF WE HAD
COMPLETE SUPPORT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BUT THAT DOESENT
HAPPEN.
! ! /// END ACT ///
MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE HAD SPOKEN WITH KEY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS,
INCLUDING THE REPUBLICAN CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
COMMITTEE, JESSIE HELMS. SHE SAYS HIS ONLY CRITICISM OF THE U-S
POLICY TOWARD IRAQ WAS THAT MILITARY ACTION HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN
EARLIER. (SIGNED)
NEB/KBK/WDC/RRM
16-Dec-98 9:12 PM EST (0212 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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