DATE=2/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245042
TITLE=INDYK / GULF REACT (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SENIOR U-S DIPLOMAT HAS COMPLETED A TOUR OF FIVE GULF
ARAB NATIONS AIMED AT GAINING SUPPORT FOR U-S PLANS TO TRY TO
TOPPLE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. RICHARD ENGEL IN CAIRO REPORTS SOME
ARAB COUNTRIES ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE U-S PLAN WHICH INVOLVES
FUNDING IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS.
TEXT: SEVERAL GULF ARAB GOVERNMENTS EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM ABOUT
U-S PLANS TO TRY TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQI PRESIDENT
SADDAM HUSSEIN.
THE OFFICIAL UNITED ARAB EMIRATES' NEWS AGENCY REPORTED THE U-A-E
GOVERNMENT HAS RESERVATIONS ABOUT A U-S PLEDGE OF 97-MILLION
DOLLARS TO SUPPORT IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS IN EXILE. THE U-A-E'S
AL KHALEEJ NEWSPAPER QUOTED THE NATION'S DEFENSE MINISTER AS
SAYING ANY INTERFERENCE FROM THE OUTSIDE COULD LEAD TO THE
DIVISION OF IRAQ OR A CIVIL WAR. THE NEWSPAPER REPORT SAID THE
U-S POLICY SETS A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,
AND CALLED THE U-S PLAN A FLAGRANT VIOLATION OF THE U-N CHARTER.
THE STATEMENTS COME ONE DAY AFTER THE U-A-E DEFENSE MINISTER MET
WITH U-S ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE MARTIN INDYK WHO WAS ON A
TOUR OF THE GULF. MR. INDYK VISITED OMAN, BAHRAIN, KUWAIT,
QATAR, AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES REPORTEDLY TO GATHER SUPPORT
FOR THE U-S PLAN.
THE OMAN GOVERNMENT ISSUED A STATEMENT URGING THE UNITED STATES
NOT TO INTERFERE IN WHAT IT CALLED THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF OTHER
COUNTRIES.
QATAR EXPRESSED SIMILAR OPPOSITION TO THE U-S PLAN, SAYING
OUTSIDE INTERFERENCES ARE NOT IN ANYONE'S INTEREST.
AT A NEWS CONFERENCE IN DUBAI TUESDAY, THE U-S OFFICIAL SAID GULF
LEADERS HAD ARGUED STRONGLY THAT THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP NEEDS TO
CHANGE, BUT THAT CHANGE MUST COME FROM WITHIN IRAQ. MR. INDYK
SAID THE UNITED STATES AGREES. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/JWH
03-Feb-99 10:29 AM EST (1529 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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