DATE=  11/20/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223003

TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  HERE IN WASHINGTON, CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY 

THEY ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE OUTCOME OF THE GENEVA MEETING -- BUT 

TAKING A WAIT-AND-SEE ATTITUDE AS TO WHETHER IRAQ FOLLOWS THROUGH

WITH ITS PROMISE TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS TO GO FORWARD. 

V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS MORE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.



TEXT:  PRESIDENT CLINTON HIMSELF TOOK A CAUTIOUS APPROACH TO THE 

EVENTS IN GENEVA IN COMMENTS TO A GATHERING OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS 

HERE.  HE SAID THE FIVE-NATION MEETING REAFFIRMED THAT THE U-N 

WEAPONS INSPECTORS -- INCLUDING THE AMERICANS -- MUST BE ALLOWED 

TO RETURN TO IRAQ AND RESUME THEIR WORK WITHOUT INTERFERENCE OR 

CONDITIONS.  MR. CLINTON SAID WHETHER SADDAM HUSSEIN ACTUALLY 

LIVES UP TO HIS AGREEMENT TO ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN REMAINS TO BE 

SEEN: 



                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///



         IN THE COMING DAYS WE WILL WAIT AND SEE WHETHER HE DOES,

         IN FACT, COMPLY WITH THE WILL OF THE INTERNATIONAL 

         COMMUNITY.  I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT THE UNITED 

         STATES MUST REMAIN AND WILL REMAIN RESOLUTE IN OUR 

         DETERMINATION TO PREVENT HIM FROM THREATENING HIS 

         NEIGHBORS OR THE WORLD WITH NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL OR 

         BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.  THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I HOPE WILL 

         BECOME MORE IMPORTANT TO ALL AMERICANS AND A GREATER 

         SUBJECT  OF DISCUSSION.  WE MUST DO THAT. 



                          ///END ACT///



ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS INSIST  NO  CONCESSIONS WERE MADE TO 

IRAQ IN RETURN FOR ITS AGREEMENT TO RE-ADMIT THE INSPECTORS.  

IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY RUSSIAN OFFICIALS -- WHO TRIED TO MEDIATE THE

DISPUTE IN RECENT DAYS -- HAD AGREED TO PRESS FOR THE LIFTING OF 

POST-GULF WAR ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ AND AN END TO THE 

U-2 SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS THERE.  HOWEVER, WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL 

SECURITY ADVISER SAMUEL BERGER INSISTED THE UNITED STATES WAS  

NOT  A PARTY TO ANY DEAL WITH IRAQ, AND IS PREPARED TO VETO ANY 

UNWARRANTED CHANGE IN THE SANCTIONS OR INSPECTIONS PROGRAM:



                     ///BERGER ACTUALITY///



         THERE'S NOTHING HERE THAT'S SELF-EXECUTING IN TERMS OF A

         RUSSIAN-IRAQ ARRANGEMENT OR A RUSSIAN-IRAQ 

         UNDERSTANDING.  IT HAS TO BE APPROVED BY THE SECURITY 

         COUNCIL.  WE ARE A MEMBER OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  WE 

         HAVE A VETO ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  AND WE WILL  NOT  

         SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT VIOLATES OUR FUNDAMENTAL RED-LINES

         (NON-NEGOTIABLE ISSUES) THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL 

         ALONG -- UNSCOM BEING PERMITTED TO DO ITS WORK AND TO DO

         IT IN A PROFESSIONAL, UNFETTERED CAPACITY. 



                          ///END ACT///



MR. BERGER SAID THE UNITED STATES DOES STAND READY TO CONSIDER 

MORE LIBERAL IRAQI OIL SALES UNDER THE U-N SUPERVISED PROGRAM 

UNDER WHICH IT BUY FOOD AND MEDICINE. BUT HE SAID THIS WAS 

ADMINISTRATION POLICY EVEN BEFORE THE LATEST INSPECTION CRISIS 

BEGAN THREE WEEKS AGO -- AND THAT THE ISSUE WAS  NOT  RAISED AT 

THE GENEVA MEETING. (SIGNED)



NEB/DAG/TMD/MMK







20-Nov-97 12:54 PM EST (1754 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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