ACCESSION NUMBER:00000

FILE ID:97111907.txt

DATE:11/19/97

TITLE:19-11-97  WHITE HOUSE REPORT, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1997



TEXT:

(Clinton on Iraq)  (220)



CLINTON ON IRAQ



Before making formal remarks at the signing of the Adoption and Safe

Families Act of 1997 November 19, President Clinton had this to say

about Iraq:



"Before I make my brief remarks, if you'll forgive me and understand,

I have to make one public statement today about the situation in Iraq.



"As I have said before, I prefer to resolve this situation peacefully,

with our friends and allies, and I am working hard to do just that.

But I want to be clear again about the necessary objective of any

diplomacy now under way. Iraq must comply with the unanimous will of

the international community and let the weapons inspectors resume

their work to prevent Iraq from developing an arsenal of nuclear,

chemical, and biological weapons. The inspectors must be able to do so

without interference. That's our top line. That's our bottom line. I

want to achieve it diplomatically, but we're taking every step to make

sure we are prepared to pursue whatever options are necessary.



"I do not want these children we are trying to put in stable homes to

grow up into a world where they are threatened by terrorists with

biological and chemical weapons. It is not right."

NNNN