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15 November 1998

• BRIEFING BY SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN 15 November 1998 -- "... it's very clear from the resolutions of the Security Council that the burden of proof is on Iraq to provide the cooperation and assistance and information necessary for UNSCOM to confirm Iraq's not having weapons of mass destruction and set up a system to ensure that it never does again. One of the reasons why we regarded this letter as making mischief is because it suggested that the burden of proof was on UNSCOM and further suggested that Iraq has done everything it needs to do ..."
• TRANSCRIPT: IRAQ HAS BACKED DOWN, BUT THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, CLINTON SAYS 15 November 1998 -- Iraq has "agreed to meet the demands of the international community to cooperate fully with the United Nations weapons inspectors," President Clinton said.
• TRANSCRIPT: WHITE HOUSE BRIEFING BY BERGER, COHEN, SHELTON 15 November 1998 -- US Defense Secretary Bill Cohen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry Shelton, and National Security Advisor Samuel R. "Sandy" Berger answered reporters' questions about US policy towards Iraq.
• SECURITY COUNCIL NOTES AGREEMENT OF IRAQ TO RESCIND EARLIER DECISIONS, ALLOW RESUMPTION OF UNSCOM AND IAEA ACTIVITIES 15 November 1998 Press Release SC/6596 IK/258 -- Council members underlined that their confidence in Iraq's intentions needs to be established by unconditional and sustained cooperation with the Special Commission and the IAEA.
• SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS HOPE FOR SATISFACTORY DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO PRESENT CRISIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED 15 November 1998 Press Release SG/SM/6796 IK/257 -- The international community had unanimously expressed its hope for a satisfactory diplomatic solution to the present crisis. It appears that this outcome has now been achieved.
• U-N - IRAQ / SUNDAY UPDATE Voice of America 15 November 1998 -- THE APPARENT CONSENSUS AMONG SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOLLOWS DIFFICULT TALKS, IN WHICH CHINA, FRANCE AND RUSSIA DISAGREED WITH THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN OVER WHETHER TO TRUST IRAQ'S PROMISE OF COOPERATION.
• IRAQ CRISIS Voice of America 15 November 1998 -- SOME ARAB DIPLOMATS DESCRIBE THE SUBDUED REACTION THIS TIME AROUND AS SADDAM FATIGUE.
• IRAQ/U-N / GULF REACT Voice of America 15 November 1998 -- ARAB LEADERS (SUNDAY) WELCOMED IRAQ'S DECISION TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS TO RESUME. SOME NOTED THE CRISIS MAY NOT BE OVER.
• CLINTON / IRAQ Voice of America 15 November 1998 -- ALTHOUGH SOME U-S ALLIES WERE SAID TO BE CONCERNED THE UNITED STATES WAITED TOO LONG TO USE FORCE AGAINST BAGHDAD, MR. CLINTON DEFENDED HIS DECISION TO HOLD OUT ON SUCH ACTION.
• PENTAGON/IRAQ-SUNDAY UPDATE Voice of America 15 November 1998 -- DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS PRESIDENT CLINTON ORDERED AMERICAN FORCES TO STRIKE, AND THEN CALLED THEM OFF WHEN IRAQ BACKED DOWN ON THE WEAPONS INSPECTION ISSUE.
• PENTAGON-IRAQ-SUNDAY Voice of America 15 November 1998 -- SEVERAL REPORTS SAY U-S BOMBERS WERE IN THE AIR ON THE WAY TO STRIKE SATURDAY WHEN IRAQ TOLD THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IT WOULD ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO RESUME THEIR WORK. THE STRIKES WERE THEN CALLED OFF.
• U-N - IRAQ / SUNDAY SECOND UPDATE Voice of America 15 November 1998 -- U-S OFFICIALS WARNED THAT THEY WILL MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL MILITARY READINESS IN ORDER TO RESPOND QUICKLY IF IRAQ FAILS TO COMPLETELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
• U-N / IRAQ / SECURITY COUNCIL Voice of America 15 November 1998 - THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HELD CLOSE TO SEVEN HOURS OF TALKS ON IRAQ SATURDAY AND PLANS TO CONTINUE MEETING ON THE ISSUE SUNDAY. IRAQ'S U-N AMBASSADOR DELIVERED LETTERS STATING MORE CLEARLY THERE WOULD BE NO CONDITIONS TO THE PROMISE OF COOPERATION.
• Transcript of an interview by Tim Russert of NBC News with Ambassador Hamdoon on 'Meet the Press', Sunday, Nov. 15, 1998
  MR. RUSSERT: You will allow complete access for the United Nations inspectors?
  AMB. HAMDOON: Absolutely.
  MR. RUSSERT: They will go anywhere at any time?
  AMB. HAMDOON: Under the relevant U.N. resolutions and the memorandum of understanding that was signed back in February.
  AMB. HAMDOON: We still deny that we have produced any stable form of VX that could be weaponized.