DATE= 11/3/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222113
TITLE=COHEN / IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS BAGHDAD WILL NOT
SUCCEED IN BREAKING THE RESOLVE OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO
CONTINUE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. AND IN AN INTERVIEW
WITH THE VOICE OF AMERICA, SECRETARY COHEN SAYS IRAQ SHOULD BE
AWARE THAT U-N-BACKED MILITARY ACTION IS A POSSIBILITY IF BAGHDAD
DOES NOT ADHERE TO U-N RESOLUTIONS PUT IN PLACE AT THE END OF THE
GULF WAR. MORE FROM CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE:
TEXT: IRAQ SHOWS NO SIGNS OF BACKING DOWN IN ITS LATEST
STANDOFF WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. ON MONDAY, BAGHDAD STEPPED UP
THE WAR OF WORDS, THREATENING TO SHOOT DOWN AMERICAN U-2 SPY
PLANES THAT GATHER INTELLIGENCE ABOUT SUSPECTED WEAPONS PROGRAMS.
A DAY EARLIER, IRAQI AUTHORITIES REFUSED TO ALLOW THREE AMERICAN
WEAPONS INSPECTORS INTO THE COUNTRY, IN LINE WITH THE
GOVERNMENT'S DEMAND THAT ALL THE AMERICANS ON THE INSPECTION TEAM
LEAVE BY THURSDAY.
AT THE PENTAGON MONDAY, DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TOLD
V-O-A IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN IS RISKING ANOTHER MILITARY
STRIKE IF HE DECIDES TO FLOUT SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
// COHEN ACT //
FOR THE TIME BEING, WE WILL INSIST AND THE UNITED
NATIONS WILL INSIST THAT HE COMPLY FULLY WITH THE
INSPECTION REGIME OR FACE SANCTIONS. AGAIN, THE
SANCTIONS COULD RANGE ALL THE WAY FROM FURTHER ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS TO MILITARY (ACTION) -- BUT THAT REMAINS TO BE
DETERMINED.
// END ACT //
JUST WHY IRAQ CHOSE TO PICK A FIGHT WITH THE WORLD COMMUNITY AT
THIS TIME IS NOT CLEAR. BAGHDAD COULD BE TRYING TO PIT MEMBERS
OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AGAINST ONE ANOTHER, HOPING THAT
COUNTRIES SUCH AS FRANCE AND RUSSIA -- AS WELL AS ARAB NATIONS --
WILL OPPOSE ANY NEW U-S LED MILITARY ACTION. IF SO, DEFENSE
SECRETARY COHEN SAYS IRAQ IS SORELY MISTAKEN
// SECOND COHEN ACT //
THIS NOT A SITUATION IN WHICH IRAQ IS POISED AGAINST THE
UNITED STATES. IT IS POISED AGAINST AND FLOUTING THE
UNITED NATIONS ITSELF. SO I THINK WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS
A VERY STRONG EFFORT BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO PERSUADE
SADDAM HUSSEIN THAT HE HAS TO COMPLY WITH ALL THE
SANCTIONS AND THAT IF HE FAILS TO DO SO, THERE WILL BE
OTHER MEASURES THAT WILL BE TAKEN TO PERSUADE HIM TO DO
SO.
// END ACT //
// OPT // LAST MONTH, THE PENTAGON STEPPED UP THE U-S MILITARY
PRESENCE IN THE GULF IN RESPONSE TO TENSIONS ALONG THE IRAN-IRAQ
BORDER. IRAQI WARPLANES HAVE ALSO BEEN SPORADICALLY VIOLATING
THE COUNTRY'S NORTHERN "NO-FLY ZONE," SET UP BY THE GULF WAR
ALLIES TO PROTECT THE COUNTRY'S KURDISH MINORITY. SECRETARY
COHEN SAYS THE U-S MILITARY COULD QUICKLY TAKE ON FURTHER
ASSIGNMENTS, IF IRAQ DOES NOT BACK DOWN.
// THIRD COHEN ACT //
WE'RE ALWAYS PREPARED TO DEAL WITH ANY CONTINGENCY. WE
HAVE INCREASED OUR ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE NO-FLY ZONE
BOTH IN THE NORTHERN WATCH AREA AS WELL AS IN THE SOUTH.
BEYOND THAT, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT TAKES
PLACE.
// END ACT // // END OPT //
IRAQ MAINTAINS IT HAS ELIMINATED ALL OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION AND ACCUSES THE UNITED STATES OF DRAGGING OUT THE
INSPECTION PROCESS TO KEEP THE COUNTRY UNDER SANCTIONS AND TO USE
THE PROCESS AS A COVER FOR ESPIONAGE. BUT WESTERN NATIONS
REMAIN SUSPICIOUS OF WHETHER BAGHDAD IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH
U-N RESOLUTIONS ON THE DESTRUCTION OF WEAPONS, NOTING IRAQ HAS
TOLD HALF-TRUTHS IN THE PAST AND HAS REPEATEDLY BLOCKED WEAPONS
INSPECTORS FROM DOING THEIR WORK. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/RRM
03-Nov-97 5:54 PM EST (2254 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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