DATE=1/14/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-225290

TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ (L) 

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS WELCOMED THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 

STATEMENT CONDEMNING IRAQ.  BUT THE ADMINISTRATION IS WARNING 

THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT ON DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO PROD SADDAM 

HUSSEIN INTO ALLOWING UNIMPEDED WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.  V-O-A'S 

DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE. 



TEXT:   MR. CLINTON SAYS HE IS VERY ENCOURAGED BY THE UNANIMOUS 

SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION. AND HE SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS  IRAQ MAY 

HAVE USED PRISONERS IN CHEMICAL WEAPONS TESTS MAKE IT ALL THE 

MORE IMPORTANT FOR THE WORLD COMMUNITY TO PRESS FOR UNIMPEDED 

INSPECTIONS.



RESPONDING TO REPORTERS' QUESTIONS AT A WHITE HOUSE HEALTH CARE 

EVENT, MR. CLINTON SAID THE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE IS WHETHER IRAQ CAN

DICTATE WHO WILL TAKE PART IN THE INSPECTIONS: :



                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///



         IT IS CLEAR THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY KNOWS 

         SADDAM HUSSEIN IS DOING THE WRONG THING. AND WE HAVE GOT

         TO REMAIN STEADFAST IN OUR DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE THE

         INSPECTIONS PROCESS IN A NON-POLITICAL WAY, WHERE THE 

         LEADER OF IRAQ DOES NOT GET TO DETERMINE WHO, WHEN AND 

         WHAT IS GOING ON IN THAT INSPECTION PROCESS.



                          ///END ACT///



ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS SAY THE UNITED STATES HAS NO INDEPENDENT

EVIDENCE OF IRAQI  USE OF PRISONERS AS HUMAN GUINEA PIGS IN 

WEAPONS EXPERIMENTS. BUT MR. CLINTON SAID THE CONCERNS ABOUT IT 

RAISED BY CHIEF INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER ARE "CLEARLY" WHAT 

JUSTIFIES THE U-N INSPECTION REGIME: 



                      ///CLINTON ACT TWO///



         WE DON'T WANT TO CONVICT THEM IN ADVANCE. BUT IF THERE 

         IS ENOUGH EVIDENCE FOR MR. BUTLER TO SAY THAT, THEN HE 

         OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO GO LOOK. I WOULD REMIND YOU THAT IN 

         1995 THEY ADMITTED HAVING STOCK OF CHEMICAL AND 

         BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS POTENTIAL THAT WERE VERY TROUBLING  

         THEY THEY ADMITTED. SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON WE'VE GOT 

         TO KEEP GOING AND CONTINUE THESE INSPECTIONS.



                          ///END ACT///



WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAID EARLIER THE UNITED STATES

IS INCREASINGLY EXHAUSTING DIPLOMATIC OPTIONS IN THE STANDOFF 

WITH IRAQ, AND THAT THE ON-AND-OFF CRISES OVER INSPECTIONS CANNOT

BE WHAT HE CALLED "AN ENDLESS LOOP." HE SUGGESTED THE OUTCOME 

COULD HINGE ON MR. BUTLER'S TALKS WITH IRAQI LEADERS IN BAGHDAD 

EARLY NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)







NEB/DAG/WDC/PT



14-Jan-98 5:12 PM EST (2212 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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