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DATE=1/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243988
TITLE=IRAQ/PARLIAMENT UPDATE (S/L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN IRAQ, A SPECIAL SESSION OF PARLIAMENT PASSED A 
VAGUELY-WORDED STATEMENT SUNDAY CRITICIZING THE UNITED NATIONS 
AND SOME ARAB STATES.  RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST
BUREAU IN CAIRO THE STATEMENT WAS FAR MILDER THAN EARLIER DRAFTS 
WHICH HAD VOWED TO REJECT ALL U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS 
PASSED SINCE THE GULF WAR.
TEXT:  IRAQI LAWMAKERS ACCEPTED A STATEMENT ASKING FOR "FURTHER 
DISCUSSION" OF WHAT IT CALLED "UNFAIR RESOLUTIONS AND MEASURES 
WHICH CONTRAVENE INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE UNITED NATIONS 
CHARTER." 
THE STATEMENT IS MUCH MORE MODERATE THAN AN EARLY DRAFT  THAT 
THREATENED TO REJECT ALL U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS BROUGHT
AGAINST IRAQ FOLLOWING THE 1991 GULF WAR -- INCLUDING ONE SETTING
A NEW BORDER WITH KUWAIT.  PARLIAMENT HAD ALSO BEEN EXPECTED TO 
ENCOURAGE IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TO DEFY WESTERN-IMPOSED 
NO-FLY ZONES, DESPITE THE RISK OF TOUCHING OFF A FRESH MILITARY 
CONFLICT.
A CLAUSE IN THE STATEMENT MERELY URGES THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO 
ADOPT, IN ITS WORDS, NECESSARY STANDS AND MEASURES REFLECTING THE
WILL OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE. 
                        /// REST OPT ///
HOWEVER, THE STATEMENT DIRECTLY CRITICIZES SAUDI ARABIA AND 
KUWAIT AND SAYS THEY ARE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR U-S AND BRITISH 
MILITARY STRIKES ON BAGHDAD LAST MONTH.
BUT THE STATEMENT DEPARTED FROM A DRAFT ISSUED TO JOURNALISTS 
SATURDAY THAT SAID IRAQ WOULD  NO  LONGER RECOGNIZE ANY U-N 
RESOLUTIONS OR THE BORDER WITH KUWAIT AND WOULD URGE THE 
GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO DEFY THE NO-FLY ZONES IN THE NORTH AND 
SOUTH OF IRAQ.
IRAQ'S PARLIAMENT, WHICH NORMALLY ADOPTS GOVERNMENT DECISIONS 
UNANIMOUSLY, AGREED ON THE STATEMENT WITH ONLY A MAJORITY.  AFTER
THE SESSION, SEVERAL LAWMAKERS TOLD REPORTERS THEY SUPPORTED A 
STRONGER POSITION.
THE STATEMENT WILL NOW BE PASSED TO THE IRAQI REVOLUTIONARY 
COMMAND COUNCIL AND IS THEN EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW BY 
PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN. (SIGNED) 
NEB/RHE/DW/JO
10-Jan-99 9:57 AM EST (1457 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.