TAHA RAMADAN PRESS CONFERENCE
Ramadan's Baghdad News Conference
Doha Qatar al-Jazirah Space Channel Television in Arabic 1640 GMT 19 Dec
98
[News conference by Iraqi Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan with Arab
and foreign correspondents in Baghdad--live]
[FBIS Translated Text] [Ramadan] In the name of God, the merciful, the
compassionate. Ladies and gentleman, brothers and sisters: At the
beginning, I would like to welcome you and wish you all a blessed
Ramadan. May the Arab and Islamic nation have many happy returns on the
occasion, and may victory be the lot of the nation with the support of
God. My meeting with you today, which is the fourth day of the latest
sinful US-British military aggression against our struggling country,
the living part of the Arab and Islamic nation at this critical and
crucial stage of the history of humanity. This is not the first
aggression.
The aggression has been under way not for four days only, but rather
for nine years, with all military, economic, and political forms and
through overt and covert conspiracies.
I will discuss the excuses and specific targets of this aggression as
outlined by the leaders of the aggression in the United States and
Britain. For four consecutive days, the leaders of the two aggressive
countries said that they decided to strike Iraq because it failed to
cooperate with the UN Special Commission [UNSCOM] and that the aim of
their aggression is to curb Iraq's capabilities in terms of the
production of weapons of mass destruction. They say this after eight
years of inspection--we are now in the ninth year of inspection. They
say that they do not seek to topple the regime, although they announced
this a few weeks ago through the world's biggest liar in the world;
namely, Clinton.
In his well-known speech, he frankly said that the blockade will not
be lifted from Iraq and that it will continue until the regime is
toppled. He said that he decided to support the so-called opposition,
who are actually agents in the hotels of Washington and New York. He
said that they will try to do their best to spare the civilians. They
said that they wanted the aggression to take place before blessed
Ramadan. The licentious, who did not respect the honor of his family or
the reputation of his people, wants to respect the feelings of Muslims
toward the month of Ramadan. I would say that what happened over the
past four days was that the number of the civilians who were martyred or
injured--today, I will not give figures of the military or civilians who
were injured or martyred--was far greater than that in the military.
This exposes their statements. We found out that the hospitals,
communication networks, and houses were targeted. A dormitory of an
institute in a subdistrict in al-Ta'mim Governorate was targeted last
night. More than 12 students who were sleeping in the dormitory were
martyred and many others were injured. Civilian factories, a rice
warehouse, and water pipes were targeted. This means that the number of
civilian martyrs is far more than that in the military.
They said they seek to degrade Iraq's ability to produce weapons of
mass destruction. The world knows, and all fair-minded people--who are
outside the circle of conspiracy--know the truth. I reiterate today that
this issue was finished with the end of 1991 and the beginning of 1992.
Let them ask the cliques of spies, Butler's cliques who are called the
UNSCOM: Have they managed to get anything within the context of their
mission, including any document or any missiles or piece of equipment
related to disarmament other than what the Iraqi side presented for more
than eight years? In the ninth year, they say that Iraq is obstructing
the work of UNSCOM. Well, if Iraq had been obstructing its work, then
how did it operate throughout these years--hundreds of thousands of
visits and sites.
Look even at the nature of the targets. How can we explain hitting a
factory that has been inspected several times and has been placed under
monitoring and that has monitoring equipment. What is the value of
inspections and monitoring then? All reports said that the monitoring
had been proceeding well and there were no violations at all by any
plant, and this is attested to by the electronic monitoring equipment at
these sites. Some plants were hit, even though they have monitoring
equipment. Other plants were hit, although they had been inspected
dozens of times. These plants are ordinary and have no equipment
related to weapons of mass destruction. These plants were destroyed.
What is the relationship between this aggression and degrading Iraq's
capabilities? Are Iraq's capabilities present in the plants that are
under monitoring? Are Iraq's capabilities present in the plants that
were inspected, even in the last visit a week ago when they were here.
These plants have nothing that is related to degrading Iraq's
capabilities. Does the striking of power stations, a cereals warehouse,
or a dormitory have anything to do with Iraq's capability to produce
weapons?
We know what they are talking about. They mean exactly the opposite
of this. From the first day, the aggression has focused on separating
the governorates of the south from the center and the north by severing
links, all links--radio, television, and ordinary and axial. The
aircraft of aggression dropped leaflets to the population in these
governorates. The liar Clinton says that they do not target [the
regime]. However, I assure him, all liars, agents, and the traitors
controlling some parts of the Arab nation that the Iraqi people today
are more determined and loyal to the leadership and leader symbol Saddam
Husayn. I say with full confidence: If, in previous years, and due to
difficult and complicated conditions and the vicious US-European media
machine of disinformation, some of our simple citizens did not
understand the nature of aggression and conspiracy clearly, this
time--and we are on the fourth day of aggression--everybody fully
understood the situation.
If we are to thank anyone, we should thank the aggressors for
enabling all our people to find out the truth. This includes all our
people, in all their segments and educational levels. They understood
the nature and purposes of this aggression.
Therefore, the resistance of our people will be far greater than that
during the past eight years, God willing. Today, the issue that is being
raised is the US-British aggression, which has been under way for four
days. At least two permanent members of the Security Council have
directly and frankly said that this aggression is a violation of the UN
Charter and all resolutions, particularly Resolution 1205, which was
issued by the Security Council a few days ago. Therefore, the United
States and Britain are fully responsible for the aggression and the
results of the aggression and for the material and human losses. They
bear the full criminal, legal, material responsibility in this regard.
This is something that cannot be ceded.
This is a flagrant aggression that is not based on any legitimacy or
law. All the good ones and those who are outside the circle of
conspiracy have said that this is an aggression. Two permanent Security
Council members have frankly said that this is an aggression.
This has a clear meaning. The problem today is not that of Butler or
the spies of UNSCOM or monitoring. Iraq has confirmed that it has no
weapons of mass destruction. We asked that a certain agency come and
verify this. However, the United States refused to do so. This has been
the case since the end of 1991. How do you interpret the fact that the
International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] presented a report in the same
period, stating that cooperation was full and that there was no problem?
Spy Butler presented a report in which he said that there was no
cooperation. The United States and Britain claim that this report is
the groundwork of the aggression. We know, and I say to you today, that
more than 80 percent of the visits of sites were made jointly by members
of the IAEA and UNSCOM. How can the members of a same group make
contradictory statements? One side says that there was full cooperation,
while the other side says that there was no cooperation.
Based on clear information, we know that Butler presented his report
two days after the presentation of the IAEA's report after he was told
by liar Clinton, who was in the occupied territories, to delay his
report until Clinton arrives in New York. He was instructed to prepare
his report in this way. This was referred to, in a bit different way, in
the Russian statements. In his latest visit to Moscow, he [Butler] spoke
about the nature and size of the report, which falls in more than 240
pages with a 40-page summary.
Russia, which is a permanent member of the Security Council, was
surprised when it found out that the report consisted of 10 pages and
contained things that have nothing to do whatsoever with what he said in
Moscow. The same applies to China.
Therefore, we saw that the two representatives said that this report
was especially prepared to create this crisis and that this is an
indecent action on the part of Butler. So, when representatives at the
Security Council describe his action as indecent, then we must
understand the depth and form of the conspiracy and the nature of
planning for this aggression. We all know that during the past eight
years, these two members--whom we respect--did not go this far with
regard to the behavior of UNSCOM and the reports it prepares. This
aggression was planned. It has nothing to do with cooperation or lack of
it.
UNSCOM's mission in Iraq has been completed a long time ago. However,
its mission remained to find covers for those who want to conceal their
defects by saying that Iraq should cooperate. This was achieved by the
report that he presented and that was not discussed at the Security
Council. The aggression started after the United States and Britain
received this report.
In this context, I say to everyone of you that Iraq will continue to
defend its land, sovereignty, and dignity.
We will not be fooled by statements by people who are known to be
professional liars and prevaricators that they respect the month of
Ramadan. Regrettably, some Muslims and Arabs have been circulating such
statements to delude themselves into believing that they are allies with
people who have some values and appreciation for their sensitivities and
beliefs. We say that the subject now is continued confrontation and
defense. The US and British sides have to bear full responsibility for
this aggression. This aspect must be addressed with full seriousness.
The same applies to the blockade, which has lasted for too long and
which is now behind us. On this occasion, I have something to say to all
Arabs and Muslims who said they regret the aggression and to those who
held Butler solely responsible for the aggression. This is as though
Butler -- this little agent -- has acted on his own to present this
report for aggression and has not received instructions. However, to
avoid disturbing the big beloved one -- America -- they took its stand
seriously. I tell the Arab parliaments Don't you feel ashamed at all? I
have all respect for many of them, with whom I met. I heard many of
their words, which reflect patriotism and pan-Arabism and denunciation
all the crimes of arrogance and imperialism. It is a shame that the
Duma preceded them in meeting and unanimously demanding that the
blockade be unilaterally broken. Yet, we have not heard a word from Arab
parliaments. I am not demanding anything from them. We are not demanding
anything from any Arab government or Arab ruler. We are not telling them
what to do. It is enough pride for us, the Iraqi people, and the masses
of the nation that we are confronting this aggression in defense of
dignity, sovereignty, principles, morals, and all human values.
However, it pains us to see such models amid this great and ancient
nation. While the bombs are falling on the Iraqi people, rulers are
still issuing orders to police and security to prevent demonstrators
from saying a word or a slogan or to express sadness for their brothers
in Iraq. What kind of officials are those and what level of lowliness,
defeatism, cowardice, subservience, and love for slavery has obsessed
them for fear of death or losing their seats.
Therefore, they do not care if they see their brothers-- if they are
truly their brothers -- being killed in this way. The entire world has
said that it is an odious crime and a treacherous aggression by people
who are strangers to us, and we are strangers to them.
It is painful to find such models among the Arabs. I say this perhaps
in an undiplomatic manner, but I understand diplomacy, logic, and
reality is to tell the truth, nothing else. I do not understand realism
to mean that we can lie and we can misrepresent facts. To be civilized
does not mean that you can call that liar an honest person or that you
can call a criminal a righteous person who offers a helping hand to
others and protects them. Who is threatening the states of the region
and the neighbors? It is really Iraq? Do those rulers not know that the
Zionist entity -- with which they have established relations and are
trying to establish relations with -- possesses all kinds of weapons of
mass destruction and it continues to acquire more and that it is indeed
the one threatening the states of the region because it has usurped the
rights of the region?
Therefore, I wanted to say to you and through you that the people of
Iraq are well and their allegiance to the leader and the leadership is
stronger than ever before. Regarding all that is in their [Americans]
sick minds and all the promises they made to some Arab rulers and
officials saying that they will get rid of this symbol who everyday
strips them naked showing them for what they really are right before
their own people and showing what small dwarfs and agents they are, I
say that this example, this leader, and this symbol of the Arab nation
will stay and he will not be any less than who he is now as he defends
principles and values. He believes that the Arab nation will emerge
victorious no matter how much the enemies gang up on it and no matter
how far the aggression goes. We will fight to the last citizen and we
will be immortalized by history. They will be placed in the garbage dump
of history. God's peace, mercy, and blessings be with you.
[Al-Burini] Muhammad Khayr al-Burini from al-Jazirah Television. There
are reports saying that US-UK forces entering through Saudi territories
have crossed five kilometers into the Iraqi territories. Is this true,
and what is your response? I had earlier spoken to Iraqi officials and
they said that Iraq wishes that US forces would enter into southern Iraq
so that they would teach them a lesson because they [US forces] would
not be up to a confrontation with the Iraqi forces on the ground.
[Ramadan] I do not confirm this because I do not have enough evidence in
this regard and I do not deny it because launching an aggression on Iraq
was not in reality based on Butler's report. Butler's report was
the straw that broke the camel's back. This aggression is based on the
treason of some Arab rulers. Therefore, I expect, or rather I say yes,
reiterating what some [Iraqi] officials said; that we wish to have
a face-to-face encounter.
[Saghir] Ahmad Saghir from Radio Monte Carlo. Pardon me, Mr. Vice
President. Away from the atmosphere of war, political efforts are being
exerted on more than one level, particularly by Russia. How do you see
these efforts? And has the Russian leadership briefed you on the ideas
it has to resolve this crisis? Does Russia support the Iraqi stand? And
what is your evaluation of the Turkish and Iranian positions during this
crisis?
[Ramadan] There are no program, suggestions, or solutions. There is a
sinful and blatant aggression that violates international laws and
charters, and as they say--they were always talking about a physical
violations--there is a clear aggression that has been going on for four
days in the ugly manner that you see it happen. Clinton calls it a
civilized manner. What is required from them so far is to denounce this
aggression and to look for a solution. But for us, our duty is to
confront this aggression. Any talk about how to take legal action
against it will take place in good time. As for our evaluation of the
Turkish and Iranian positions, I speak here of a position adopted by
Muslims and Arabs, I cannot speak about a diplomatic stand at the time
when we are already in the worst stages of the aggression. A diplomatic
position might be acceptable before an aggression actually takes place.
But after the aggression has actually taken place... [pauses] we all
know what an Arab and Muslim position ought to be like then. Is
this [Iranian and Turkish] stand in line with this viewpoint? I do not
think so. I wish this position were more harmonious with our fraternal
and religious ties and neighborliness.
[ANN Correspondent] [words indistinct] Tariq 'Aziz said that he will not
accept any terms from now onwards. Is Iraq taking any certain measures
to put an end to this critical situation without having to make
concessions or to accept any terms? And how to you see the future of
this situation?
[Ramadan] There are no terms. We do not accept any conditions.
Everything in the past is behind us now. What is required is to
prosecute the hostile aggression and to hold them responsible according
to their own laws, which they themselves drew up. How will we face it?
We will face it with steadfastness and confrontation.
[Al-Burini] Muhammad Khayr al-Burini. The Russian News Agency Itar-Tass
cited sources at the Russian Foreign Ministry who said that the Iraqi
Ambassador in Moscow says that you are ready to cooperate with UNSCOM in
spite of all the attacks and all that has happened...
[Ramadan, interrupting] If they have cited the ambassador, then this is
their business and the business of the ambassador. The issue of UNSCOM
is behind us now. The commission of spies is behind us now. It no longer
has a task.
[Al-Burini] Does this mean that you will no longer cooperate with UNSCOM
and with Butler...
[Ramadan, interrupting] I am not talking about the details. What I am
saying is that all that has to do with inspection, monitoring, and
weapons of mass destruction is now behind us. If they believe that
they [the weapons] are somewhere, then they have destroyed them all. So
all these issues are now behind us. If, however, they mean to say that
the spies will remain in Iraq so that they can update their information
and repeat the attacks in a more harmful way, then [they should know]
that this is over from now onward.
[MBC correspondent] Vice President, some people are saying that after
the military strike there will be a new chapter. Some people are
speaking about the role of the so-called the opposition. What is your
comment?
[Ramadan] I do no comment on such absurdity. We say to them: Use all the
potentials that you have. If there is an opposition, then let them come
forward. No one is holding them back. Let them do what they want.
[Unidentified correspondent in English] I just want to...[pauses] It's
not so much a question as a request. Those of us here, particularly from
the American media, would like to get out of Baghdad so that we can
fully reflect what is happening in the country here. I was thinking over
the next few days we might be able to do that, if you can help us
please. [question is translated into Arabic for Ramadan]
[Ramadan] This is not a question. It should be addressed to the parties
concerned and [this will be decided] according to the nature of the
situation, the circumstances, and what in the best interest of the
confrontation.
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