DATE=  11/10/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222432

TITLE= BRITAIN / IRAQ (L-ONLY)

BYLINE= ANDRE DE NESNERA

DATELINE= LONDON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  BRITISH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE ONCE AGAIN CALLED ON 

SADDAM HUSSEIN TO LET ALL U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ONTO IRAQI SOIL.

ANDRE DE NESNERA REPORTS FROM LONDON.



TEXT:  BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY GEORGE ROBERTSON TOLD REPORTERS 

LONDON RETAINS THE OPTION OF USING MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ 

-- IF SADDAM HUSSEIN REFUSES TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO 

GET ON WITH THEIR WORK, UNIMPEDED.



                      // ROBERTSON ACT // 



         THE QUESTION OF MILITARY ACTION HAS  NOT  BEEN RULED 

         OUT.  THE WORLD MUST BE ROBUST IN MAKING SURE THAT 

         SADDAM HUSSEIN DOES  NOT  MISTAKE ANY SIGNAL AT ALL.  

         HIS PROGRAM OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION HAS GOT TO BE

         MONITORED, HAS GOT TO BE CONFRONTED AND HE IS  NOT  

         GOING TO BE ALLOWED TO FLOUT WORLD OPINION.



                         // END ACT // 



BAGHDAD HAS BARRED AMERICANS FROM PARTICIPATING IN U-N WEAPONS 

INSPECTIONS TEAMS, ACCUSING THEM OF SPYING -- A CHARGE FLATLY 

DENIED BY THE UNITED STATES.



DURING A STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, THE BRITISH MINISTER 

IN CHARGE OF MIDDLE EAST AFFAIRS -- DEREK FATCHETT -- SAID IT IS 

ESSENTIAL FOR THE REGION AND FOR THE REST OF THE WORLD U-N 

INSPECTORS BE ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT THEIR WORK. 



MR. FATCHETT TOLD BRITISH LAWMAKERS IRAQ HAS THE CAPACITY TO 

PRODUCE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND THE U-N TEAM IS CRUCIAL 

TO INSURE ALL THESE WEAPONS ARE DESTROYED.



                      // FATCHETT ACT //  



         THE (BRITISH) GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO STAND AGAINST 

         SADDAM HUSSEIN.  HE IS A DICTATOR WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED A

         TOTAL LACK OF INTEREST IN THE WELFARE OF THE IRAQI 

         PEOPLE.  HE HAS SHOWN BY HIS PAST ACTIONS THAT HE IS A 

         THREAT TO REGIONAL PEACE AND TO REGIONAL SECURITY.



                         // END ACT //  



MEANWHILE IN BRUSSELS, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOK TOLD 

REPORTERS EUROPEAN FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE

SITUATION IN IRAQ.  AFTER MEETING HIS EUROPEAN COUNTERPARTS, MR. 

COOK TOLD REPORTERS IRAQ MUST COMPLY FULLY WITH THE TERMS OF THE 

U-N RESOLUTIONS OUTLINING THE WORK OF WEAPONS INSPECTIONS TEAMS. 

(SIGNED)



NEB/ADEN/PCF/RAE



10-Nov-97 11:54 AM EST (1654 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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