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DATE=1/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244123
TITLE=IRAQ/MEDIATION (S/L) - CQ
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  NEW STATEMENTS FROM BAGHDAD (WEDNESDAY) INDICATE THE 
IRAQI LEADERSHIP MAY BE BACKING DOWN FROM ITS CONFRONTATIONAL 
STANCE TOWARDS FELLOW ARAB NATIONS.  RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM 
OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU THE APPARENT SHIFT COMES AS ARAB STATES 
ARE INCREASING DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO SOLVE THE IRAQI CRISIS.
TEXT:  A SPOKESMAN FOR IRAQ'S PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN SAID, IN 
REMARKS PUBLISHED WEDNESDAY, THAT IRAQ SEEKS A BALANCED DIALOGUE 
BASED ON GOOD INTENTIONS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE ARAB NATIONS 
TO FIND PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO THE SITUATION.
THE STATEMENT IS FAR MILDER THAN THE BELLICOSE RHETORIC THAT HAS 
COME OUT OF BAGHDAD IN RECENT DAYS.  AT ONE POINT, IRAQ CALLED 
FOR THE OVERTHROW OF ARAB GOVERNMENTS THAT DO NOT SUPPORT HIM -- 
CAUSING A WAR OF WORDS AND COMPLICATING ARAB EFFORTS TO COME UP 
WITH A UNIFIED DIPLOMATIC POSITION ON IRAQ.
// OPT // ANOTHER STATEMENT FROM BAGHDAD (TUESDAY) URGED ARAB 
NATIONS TO STAND BEHIND HIM IN HIS CONFRONTATION WITH THE UNITED 
STATES AND BRITAIN. // END OPT //
ANALYSTS SAY THE APPARENT CHANGE IN ATTITUDE MAY BE AN ATTEMPT TO
INFLUENCE ARAB STATES WHICH HAVE BEGUN TO COORDINATE THEIR 
POSITIONS ON THE IRAQI CRISIS BEFORE A MEETING OF ARAB FOREIGN 
MINISTERS IN CAIRO, SCHEDULED FOR LATER THIS MONTH.
                           /// OPT ///
SEVENTEEN ARAB STATES HAVE REPORTEDLY AGREED TO ATTEND THE 
FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING, WHICH IS TO BE HELD AT THE THE 
SAUDI-CAPITAL, RIYADH.  GULF-ARAB STATES, LED BY SAUDI ARABIA, 
HAVE BEGUN TO MEET AT THE LEVEL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS TO PREPARE 
FOR THE ARAB-LEAGUE MEETING.
THE SAUDI-OWNED "AL HAYAT" NEWSPAPER SAID FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM 
SAUDI ARABIA, KUWAIT, BAHRAIN, QATAR, OMAN, AND THE UNITED ARAB 
EMIRATES WILL SOON MEET IN THE SAUDI-CAPITAL, RIYADH, TO DISCUSS 
IRAQ.  IT WOULD BE THE THIRD TIME GULF STATES' FOREIGN MINISTERS 
MEET IN SAUDI ARABIA IN LESS THAN A MONTH.
                          // END OPT //
ARAB DIPLOMATS SAY SAUDI ARABIA HAS A PLAN TO EASE THE ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ.
WHILE PREVIOUS STATEMENTS FROM IRAQ INDICATED IT WOULD NOT ACCEPT
A SAUDI-DEAL, IRAQ'S NEW TONE MAY BE AN INDICATION THE IRAQI 
LEADERSHIP IS READY TO COMPROMISE AND ACCEPT AN ARAB-SPONSORED 
SOLUTION. (SIGNED) 
NEB/RHE/RAE/JO/GE
13-Jan-99 10:19 AM EST (1519 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.