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09 March 1999

TRANSCRIPT: SECDEFENSE COHEN PRESS CONFERENCE IN DOHA MARCH 9

(US, Qatar agree to establish telephone link, early-warning info)
(4060)
Doha -- The United States and Qatar on March 9 took two steps to make
their close relationship even closer, says Secretary of Defense
William Cohen. "We agreed to establish a telephone link to facilitate
communications between our two governments. The United States also
offered to share early-warning information about missile launches in
Iraq or Iran."
Communicating with Qatar on a regular basis "is in the interest of
promoting security and stability in the region. And we will continue
to do that," Cohen said.
"Sheikh Hamad, the Amir, and I have had very successful meetings,"
Cohen reported during a joint press conference with Qatari Foreign
Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al-Thani. "We are working
together to bring peace and stability to the region, and we very much
appreciate the support that we get from Qatar," he said.
The Secretary congratulated Qatar on the March 8 elections, in which
women ran for office and voted for the first time, and said: "This is
a sign of Qatar's leadership in the region."
Cohen said he discussed with the Amir programs in Iraq and Iran to
maintain weapons of mass destruction and the threat that these weapons
pose to the region.
"Since the end of last year, Iraq has violated the no-fly zones more
than 100 times; they have fired more than 20 surface-to-air missiles
at coalition aircraft; and they continually fired anti-aircraft guns
and rockets in an effort to shoot down our planes. In response to
Iraqi aggression, our aircraft have fired back in self-defense; and we
will continue to target Iraq's air-attack network as long as it
continues to threaten our planes," he said.
Cohen stressed that the U.S. has "nothing but respect and sympathy for
the people of Iraq and the conditions that they endure under Saddam
Hussein," and noted that the United States sponsored the oil-for-food
program for Iraq to import food and medicine.
"... Last month, the Security Council reported that in central and
southern Iraq, Saddam is storing in warehouses 275 million dollars in
medicine and medical supplies, more than half the amount purchased
under the oil-for-food program. And so it is clear that Saddam Hussein
cares more about weapons than the welfare of his people. If Saddam
cared about his people, he would help them by complying with Security
Council resolutions. So the United States will continue to work for an
Iraq that is unified, peaceful, and prosperous," he said.
Following is the transcript, provided by USIS Doha:
(Begin transcript)
Joint Press Conference
by U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen
and Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al-Thani
Doha, Qatar
March 9, 1999
HAMAD: In the name of God, the Merciful, the Beneficent. First, we
welcome Mr. Cohen to Qatar. Mr. Cohen just now held talks with His
Highness the Amir and myself. The talks were productive. We discussed
events in the region and bilateral relations between the State of
Qatar and the United States. The meeting was good, and it took place
in the context of excellent relations between Qatar and America. I
will allow Mr. Cohen to make a comment if he wishes before we take
questions.
COHEN: Thank you very much. Before I start, I'd like to congratulate
Qatar on yesterday's elections, in which women ran for office and
voted for the first time. This is a sign of Qatar's leadership in the
region. This is my fourth visit to Qatar in 13 months, and -- as it
has been in the past -- Sheikh Hamad, the Amir, and I have had very
successful meetings. We are working together to bring peace and
stability to the region, and we very much appreciate the support that
we get from Qatar.
In our meetings today, we took two steps to make our relationship even
closer. We agreed to establish a telephone link to facilitate
communications between our two governments. The United States also
offered to share early-warning information about missile launches in
Iraq or Iran. We discussed programs in Iraq and Iran to maintain
weapons of mass destruction and the threat that these weapons pose to
the region. After Iraq invaded Kuwait and fired Scud missiles at Saudi
Arabia, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolutions to
contain Iraq from attacking its neighbors. And pursuant to those
resolutions, the United States and the United Kingdom enforce the
no-fly zones over Iraq.
Since the end of last year, Iraq has violated the no-fly zones more
than 100 times; they have fired more than 20 surface-to-air missiles
at coalition aircraft; and they continually fired anti-aircraft guns
and rockets in an effort to shoot down our planes. In response to
Iraqi aggression, our aircraft have fired back in self-defense; and we
will continue to target Iraq's air-attack network as long as it
continues to threaten our planes.
We are focusing on military and not civilian targets. We have nothing
but respect and sympathy for the people of Iraq and the conditions
that they endure under Saddam Hussein. The United States sponsored the
oil-for-food program for Iraq to import food and medicine. Saddam
delayed that program for several years, and since starting it, he has
been slow to distribute goods to his people.
Last month, the Security Council reported that in central and southern
Iraq, Saddam is storing in warehouses 275 million dollars in medicine
and medical supplies, more than half the amount purchased under the
oil-for-food program. And so it is clear that Saddam Hussein cares
more about weapons than the welfare of his people. If Saddam cared
about his people, he would help them by complying with Security
Council resolutions. So the United States will continue to work for an
Iraq that is unified, peaceful, and prosperous.
I might indicate that the same report said that only about 40 percent
of the equipment received for water treatment and sanitation has been
distributed, and 50 percent of the agricultural chemicals. So the
question is, why is Saddam hoarding goods and not helping his people?
Iraq says it doesn't have enough trucks to distribute these goods, but
it always seems to have enough trucks to move its military equipment
and troops.
And so, like Qatar, we look forward to an Iraq that respects the
United Nations, its neighbors, and its people; and we will work toward
that end.
Q: The U.S. is accused of exploiting the issue of the so-called
Iraq-Iran danger to sell more arms to the countries in the region,
plus to guarantee the expansion and the deployment of your troops in
the Arabian Gulf area. How do you comment on that? And second question
is, Iraq says that there is no U.S. (sic) resolution behind imposing
the no-fly zone over its North and South. Can you name that resolution
and what it says?
COHEN: The United States and Great Britain -- and indeed the French,
up until recently -- have in fact, since 1991, been enforcing a no-fly
zone in order to protect the Iraqi people, both in the North and the
South, as well as the neighbors in the region. We will continue to
enforce the no-fly zones, as we have in the past.
With respect to other countries acquiring weapons, we believe it's
important, that to the extent that Saddam or Iran poses a threat to
the region, that the countries of the Gulf be in a position to defend
themselves. And we will help to cooperate with them and provide them
with whatever equipment is necessary to provide for the peace and
stability of the region. We do so at the request of the Gulf states,
and we hope to be able to help them in that regard.
Q: The dual containment policy where Iraq and Kuwait are concerned has
proven to be a failure. Do you think that the new dual containment
policy you are adopting in the military realm will meet the same fate?
This is my first question. My question to the Foreign Minister, Sheikh
Hamad. Did you discuss with Mr. Cohen your idea, which you presented
in Washington in your most recent visit to the U.S., on holding an
international conference to discuss the Iraqi crisis? Thank you.
COHEN: You are inquiring as to whether or not the containment policy
has been successful. The answer is yes. Saddam has been contained
since the end of the Gulf War. He has not been in a position to pose a
threat to the countries in the region by virtue of the United States,
the United Kingdom, and others who have been working to make sure that
he doesn't move against Kuwait or Saudi Arabia or any other country.
So the containment policy has, in fact, been successful. As I
indicated in my opening statement, while containing Saddam's
aggression against his neighbors and preventing him from being able to
deliver these weapons of mass destruction -- which he continues to
hide and conceal -- we have helped protect the security of the region.
In the meantime, we have supported the Iraqi people through the
oil-for-food program, which, I must once again emphasize, he continues
to frustrate and inhibit. The notion that he would hold up and store
in warehouses almost 300 million dollars' worth of medical supplies
and then complain that the Iraqi people are going without medicine is
the height of hypocrisy. I think it should be known and made known to
all of the people in the region exactly what he is doing. We intend to
continue to enforce the Security Council resolutions and to contain
Saddam's activities until such time as he agrees to fully comply with
the Security Council resolutions. We look forward to that time when
there will be a different leadership so that the Iraqi people can
enjoy the fruits of being full-fledged members of the international
community once again.
HAMAD: Regarding your question, we discussed in general both our idea
and Iraq's situation. As you know, we are concerned about the Iraqi
people and the Iraqi people's suffering, and we hope that this cloud
would be lifted from the Iraqi people as soon as possible. There is no
doubt that there are United Nations Security Council (UNSC)
requirements and that we support these requirements. I think that they
should be implemented by Iraq and also that the United Nations should
continue to consider the tragic situation of the Iraqi people. As for
our idea, it is really a general idea; and it does not go beyond, as I
mentioned two days ago when the French Foreign Minister was here, the
framework of the United Nations. It falls within both the United
Nations and the context of UNSC resolutions. But we know that there
are debates in the UNSC, and we will wait until of April, when UNSC
committees reach their conclusions.
Q: There has been much speculation about whether GCC countries support
the continuing attacks in immobilizing Iraq. Do you support the almost
daily attacks, despite the fact that many experts say that
anti-aircraft fire does not really threaten these aircraft?
HAMAD:  Is this for me or for -
Q:  It's for you, Sir.
HAMAD: Well, what would you like me to answer? We understand the
position of the United States in this aspect. We wish not to see Iraq
being bombed daily, or these attacks which are taking place daily in
the no-fly zone. We have our different opinion on this, but let me
tell you one thing -- our main issue is how to bring peace and
stability in the area. The United States, as an ally, have their
opinion on this peace and how they bring the peace and stability.
Sometimes we have our differences -- I have to say this very frankly
-- but in principle, I don't think there is any difference between us
and the opinion of the United States. But I cannot say we support the
daily no-fly zone attacks.
COHEN: If I could just add, there would be no daily attacks upon the
triple-A batteries or the radars or the surface-to-air missiles if
Saddam Hussein were not trying to take down and destroy and target our
aircraft. And so the way for these counterattacks to stop is for
Saddam to simply stop trying to violate the no-fly zones and stop
trying to kill our pilots and our airplanes.
Q: Mr. Cohen, why do you beat the drums of war against Iraq and also
trumpet the good news of a war in Korea? When can Washington turn
toward the logic of peace and abandon the militarizing of
international relations and arms sales as personally conducted by the
Secretary of Defense? Will this prevent war from harming humanity, or
will it lead to actual peace? A question for His Excellency the
Foreign Minister of Qatar. We have noticed a change in the general
position of the Qatari government on the Iraqi issue, especially after
the Damascus Declaration Countries' meeting that preceded the Desert
Fox operation.
COHEN: First, let me dispute your question with respect to Korea. As a
matter of fact, the United States has maintained peace and stability
on the Korean peninsula since the end of the Korean conflict by
maintaining a presence and having a strong deterrent. We have been
supporting President Kim's efforts to have a better relationship and a
new opening with North Korea. We have also been very concerned,
however, that the North Koreans in the past have been in the process
of developing nuclear weapons. They have demonstrated most recently
that they have been developing longer-range missiles; in fact, firing
a missile that went over Japan, which has Japan very much concerned
about whether the North Koreans will pose a threat to their country as
well. We have been in the process of promoting the so-called
Four-Party Talks.
We have also had former Secretary of Defense Bill Perry trying to meet
with various officials to devise, to oversee our current policy to see
whether it needs to be strengthened or modified in some way. But we
want very much to see a peaceful resolution on the Korean peninsula.
It's in no one's interest to see that conflict. Go ahead, please;
follow up.
Q: You said to the American troops in Saudi Arabia, "Prepare for a
war, even in Korea." The militarizing of international relations is a
methodology of the American administration.
COHEN: I think something's missing in the translation, but you seem to
suggest that we are trying to militarize the forces in Saudi Arabia
for North Korea.
HAMAD: No, I think the question is saying that you are telling your
people or your army in Saudi Arabia to prepare themselves for a long
war.
COHEN: I'm not sure I understand the question. What I have said in
Saudi Arabia is that we should always be prepared for self-defense for
any attack that might come from Iraq, Iran, or anywhere else; and that
they should have proper defensive measures. That is the policy, I
think, of every country, to be prepared against any potential attack.
But we, under no circumstances, are telling our forces to be prepared
in Saudi Arabia for North Korea.
Q:  And about the arms trade?
HAMAD: Please; I will answer just (the other) question. Regarding
Qatar's position after the Damascus Declaration, it has not changed on
the situation in Iraq. We continue to have diplomatic relations with
Iraq. Also, our position is clear. We call upon Iraq to implement UNSC
resolutions and international law, and we do not ask anything else of
Iraq. Regarding ourselves, our policy is very clear. There are
obligations on both parties. As I mentioned at the beginning of this
press conference, Iraq has its duties, and the United Nations has its
duties toward the Iraqi people.
Q: The American administration allocated 97 million dollars to assist
the Iraqi opposition. Did you ask the Gulf countries, including Qatar,
to use their territory to train the Iraqi opposition, particularly
since that out of the 97 million, 11 million are (inaudible). My
question for Sheikh Hamad, do Iranian maneuvers pose a real threat to
Qatar?
COHEN: You inquired about the Congressional authorization for moneys
to help consolidate the opposition. Indeed, Congress did provide
authorization for money to help organize an opposition to Saddam
Hussein. We are in the process of trying to coordinate those
opposition groups to see if they might speak with a single voice in
providing an opposition to the Iraqi regime right now. We hope that
they will be able to consolidate those voices and those people. We are
making some progress in that, and hopefully, their voice will be heard
by the Iraqi people, who, I believe, would long for the day when they
can have a change in leadership other than that posed by Saddam
Hussein. So we are working with the opposition groups; we are trying
to organize them and provide them with an opportunity to have a
collective voice as an alternative to Saddam Hussein.
HAMAD: Regarding Iran and the Iranian maneuvers, they do not pose a
direct threat to Qatar, but if any Gulf country feels that this is a
threat to it, then we would consider it a threat to us. But we still
think that we must rely on the voice of reason and solving problems
between brothers in the Emirates and Iran on the Emirati islands
through peaceful means or through international arbitration. We in
Qatar think that there must be normal and cordial ties among all Gulf
countries, including Iran and Iraq. We believe that all in the region
are responsible for safeguarding peace, but when and how will be
specified at the appropriate time. Only two more questions, please.
Q: Your Excellency, what exactly do you want from the region? You
speak of the Iraqi Kurds but let Turkey do whatever it wants to the
Kurds. You let Israel do what it wants in southern (Lebanon) and
Palestine. Since Desert Fox, there has been a feeling of impatience
with all that is American. This is happening in the Arab street from
the extreme North to the extreme South, from Morocco to Egypt. Your
Excellency, the Gulf is suffering from a very difficult economic
situation, even in the oil-rich countries, due to military armaments
and the suffering of the region's countries.
COHEN: You omitted something from your question. You didn't point out,
for example, that President Clinton has pushed very hard for a Middle
East peace settlement; in fact, he traveled to Israel back in December
to meet with Palestinians in Gaza. And I think that was very well
received on the part of the Palestinian people. So I would take issue
with your characterization that throughout the Arab population, that
they do not see anything favorable about the United States. In fact, I
find quite to the contrary that our role in the Gulf, our support for
the Gulf States to promote peace and stability -- which will allow for
the promotion of prosperity -- is very critical to all of the Arab
people.
We have tried to demonstrate by our relationships that we indeed
identify with the suffering of the Iraqi people. We were the ones
promoting the oil-for-food program. Saddam Hussein is holding up 275
million dollars' worth of medicine and not distributing it to his
people. So I think that it's very clear that we are showing more
concern for the Iraqi people than he is showing. In addition, we are
working with all of the Gulf states to help provide for their own
security. This is something I believe they all welcome and want to see
continued and, indeed, enhanced. When I mentioned earlier in my
opening statement that we want to share early-warning with our Gulf
friends, that we want to have direct lines of communications, that
will be for the benefit of the Gulf states.
Q: My first question is for Sheikh Hamad. You have been talking for
some time now about keeping the crisis within the framework of the
United Nations and UNSC. There is clear agreement on this with the
European position and, specifically, the French position after Desert
Fox. But there is a basic difference with the American position. In
your last talks, did you notice any American intention to bring the
issue back to the UNSC? And if the answer is negative, then what is
your position in Qatar and that of the (other) Gulf countries? The
second question is for the American minister. We hear you talk
constantly about an Iraqi threat to its neighbors, as well as
suggestions of a similar Iranian threat. What is the relationship
between this talk and the arms deals that are part of your visits to
the region?
HAMAD: Regarding the UNSC issue, we talk with Mr. Cohen about the
necessity of everyone working together in the UNSC and, above all, of
maintaining keen sensitivity towards the Iraqi people. And I think the
American side understands and is considering this issue. We think that
the legality of the Iraqi position should be through the UN.
Therefore, we may differ on some points, but I think that the American
side is also making efforts through the United Nations regarding the
next step on Iraq. As I mentioned, we are awaiting the reports that
will be issued on April 15th by the concerned committees in the UN on
this matter. Our position is clear regarding the crisis with Iraq. It
should be dealt with through the UN, but at the same time, we in the
region are directly concerned with this crisis because it affects and
casts its shadow on us. Therefore, we also think that our opinions and
ideas on how to reach to an end to this crisis should be considered.
COHEN: Let me respond by pointing out that Iraq invaded Kuwait and
sought to destroy that country and its people, in addition to much of
its oil-production capability, just a few years ago. It was Iraq that
used chemical weapons against the Iranians and against its own Kurdish
population. So the danger posed by Iraq in the past has been clear.
What we seek to do is prevent Iraq from doing similar types of things
in the future to the detriment of all in the Gulf region.
And so when I come on various visits, I am not coming to promote any
sales that are not being requested by the Gulf states themselves, be
it in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia or any other state. To the extent that
they feel that each country needs to have measures to protect its
population and its military, then certainly we are in a position and
are eager to be of help, and to provide whatever equipment we can. But
I must say, if you only look at what is taking place in the past, less
then a decade, the proliferation of missile technology, the testing of
the Shahab 3 in Iran, should be of concern to those in the region; the
acquisition of chemical and biological weapons by Iran and Iraq should
be of concern to those in the region, and indeed they are. And it is
for that reason that the United States is so willing to share our
technology and our support for the Gulf states to prevent those kinds
of threats from becoming a reality and manifesting themselves in any
kind of an attack.
So I come here not on any sales mission, as such. I have today offered
Qatar shared early warning, meaning whatever information we have with
our satellites that find the testing of missiles in the area, we will
share that with Qatar. To the extent that we can have communications,
we will set up a link of communications so that we can communicate on
a regular basis. That is in the interest of promoting security and
stability in the region. And we will continue to do that.
HAMAD:  Thank you all.
(End transcript)