DATE=1/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244459
TITLE=IRAQ / ARAB LEAGUE (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN IRAQI OFFICIAL IN EGYPT SAYS IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER
(MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SAHAF) IS TO ATTEND SUNDAY'S MEETING OF
FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE ARAB LEAGUE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT SCOTT
BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT INTENSIVE
CONSULTATIONS HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS TO OVERCOME
SERIOUS DIFFERENCES OVER ARAB POLICY TOWARD THE IRAQI CRISIS.
TEXT: A SENIOR IRAQI OFFICIAL IN CAIRO (THURSDAY) SAID FOREIGN
MINISTER MOHAMMED SAEED AL-SAHAF WILL FLY TO EGYPT FOR SUNDAY'S
MEETING. HIS REMARK ECHOES A SIMILAR STATEMENT THE DAY BEFORE BY
THE ARAB LEAGUE SPOKESMAN, WHO SAID IRAQ ANNOUNCED ITS ATTENDANCE
IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT TO ARAB LEAGUE HEADQUARTERS IN CAIRO.
NEARLY ALL THE ARAB LEAGUE'S 22 MEMBER STATES SAY THEY WILL
ATTEND THE MEETING. THE MEETING IS EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON WAYS TO
EASE THE PLIGHT OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING UNDER
STRICT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS SINCE THE GULF WAR EIGHT YEARS AGO.
DIPLOMATS IN THE REGION SAY A NUMBER OF ARAB GOVERNMENTS FAVOR A
PROPOSAL BY SAUDI ARABIA THAT WOULD CALL FOR EASING THE SANCTIONS
AS LONG AS MEASURES ARE MAINTAINED TO ENSURE THAT IRAQ DOES NOT
RESUME EFFORTS TO REBUILD ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
BUT IRAQ, HAS CALLED FOR AN UNCONDITIONAL END TO THE SANCTIONS
AND THE WITHDRAWAL OF WESTERN TROOPS FROM THE GULF REGION. THE
IRAQI GOVERNMENT HARDENED ITS POSITION LAST MONTH, FOLLOWING FOUR
NIGHTS OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ BY U-S AND BRITISH FORCES.
THE STRIKES BROUGHT WIDESPREAD CRITICISM IN THE ARAB WORLD AND
POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS IN A DOZEN ARAB COUNTRIES. MANY ARAB
GOVERNMENTS CRITICIZED THE SANCTIONS, SAYING THEY WEAKEN THE
IRAQI PEOPLE WHILE STRENGTHENING THE IRAQI REGIME.
BUT A NUMBER OF ARAB GOVERNMENTS ALSO BLAMED THE SANCTIONS AND
THE AIR STRIKES ON THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT, SAYING ITS POLICIES WERE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PEOPLE'S SUFFERING. IRAQ REACTED ANGRILY TO
THE CHARGES, LEADING TO A WAR OF WORDS WITH SEVERAL GOVERNMENTS
IN THE REGION.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT ALSO CRITICIZED MODERATE ARAB GOVERNMENTS
FOR POSTPONING THE ARAB LEAGUE MEETING, SAYING THE MOVE WAS MEANT
TO SABOTAGE ITS EFFORTS TO UNITE ARAB GOVERNMENTS BEHIND MOVE TO
END THE SANCTIONS.
THE DISPUTE LED TO FEARS OF A COLLAPSE OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS
MEETING. BROAD ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING IS VIEWED AS ESSENTIAL
IF ARAB DIPLOMATS ARE TO ORGANIZE SUCCESSFULLY AN ARAB SUMMIT
MEETING. A NUMBER OF ARAB LEADERS HAVE CALLED FOR SUCH A SUMMIT
TO DISCUSS THE IRAQI CRISIS, THE STALLED MIDDLE EAST PEACE
PROCESS, AND OTHER ISSUES CAUSING RISING FRUSTRATION AND FEARS OF
INCREASED VIOLENCE IN THE REGION. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/RAE/GE
21-Jan-99 10:17 AM EST (1517 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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