DATE=1/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225386
TITLE=BRITAIN / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE= ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=LONDON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: BRITAIN IS SENDING AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO THE PERSIAN
GULF AS THE STALEMATE BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS OVER
WEAPONS INSPECTORS CONTINUES. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS
FROM LONDON.
TEXT: BRITAIN IS DISPATCHING THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER "INVINCIBLE"
ALONG WITH AN AUXILIARY SHIP TO THE GULF IN RESPONSE TO IRAQ'S
OBSTRUCTION OF UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS. "INVINCIBLE"
HAS BEEN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SINCE MID-NOVEMBER AND BRITISH
OFFICIALS SAY THE VESSEL WILL JOIN AMERICAN SHIPS ALREADY IN THE
GULF.
BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY GEORGE ROBERTSON SAYS IRAQ'S CONTINUED
DEFIANCE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IS OF "SERIOUS CONCERN." HE TOLD
BRITISH RADIO THAT SENDING WARSHIPS TO THE GULF IS A CLEAR SIGNAL
TO IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN THAT HE MUST ABIDE BY U-N
RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
// ROBERTSON ACT //
IT IS A BACKUP TO THE DIPLOMACY THAT WE HOPE WILL
SUCCEED -- AND WHICH SUCCEEDED ON THE LAST OCCASION. BUT
AN ATTEMPT BY HIM (SADDAM) TO PICK AND CHOOSE WHO WILL
INSPECT THESE SITES, AN ATTEMPT BY HIM TO CONTINUE TO
HIDE HIS CAPABILITY IN BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS
IS SIMPLY NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE WORLD COMMUNITY. AND
HE POSES A HUGE AND DANGEROUS THREAT BOTH TO HIS
NEIGHBORS AND INDEED TO THE WIDER REGION.
// END ACT //
MR. ROBERTSON DESCRIBED THE SENDING OF THE "INVINCIBLE" AS -- "A
SENSIBLE AND NECESSARY PRECAUTION."
TIM TREVAN IS A MIDDLE EAST EXPERT WITH LONDON'S INTERNATIONAL
INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES. A FORMER WEAPONS INSPECTOR, MR.
TREVAN SAYS IRAQ RESPONDS ONLY TO MILITARY THREATS.
// TREVAN ACT //
THE MAIN THING THAT IRAQ SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND IS FORCE.
AFTER ALL, THAT IS HOW THEY CONDUCT THEIR DIPLOMACY:
THEY THREATEN COUNTRIES WHENEVER THEY WANT TO ACHIEVE
SOMETHING AND IF THE THREATS DO NOT WORK, THEY INVADE
THEM. THAT IS WHAT IRAQ UNDERSTANDS AND THE HISTORY OF
"UNSCOM" (THE U-N INSPECTIONS TEAM) WITH IRAQ HAS BEEN
THAT WHENEVER IRAQ HAS UNDERSTOOD THERE TO BE A CREDIBLE
MILITARY THREAT, THEN IT JUST BACKED DOWN -- AND IT HAS
ACTUALLY DONE WHAT IS NECESSARY TO AVOID A MILITARY
CRISIS.
// END ACT //
TIM TREVAN SAYS HE HOPES THE HEAD OF THE U-N INSPECTIONS TEAM --
RICHARD BUTLER -- WILL DELIVER A VERY STRONG MESSAGE TO THE
IRAQIS WHEN HE VISITS BAGDHAD EARLY NEXT WEEK. MR. TREVAN SAYS
IF THAT MESSAGE IS CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD BY THE IRAQIS, THEN THERE
IS A CHANCE DIPLOMACY MIGHT WORK. (SIGNED)
NEB/ADEN/PCF
16-Jan-98 10:13 AM EST (1513 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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