DATE=  11/22/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223105

TITLE=CLINTON/RUSSIA/IRAQ   (L)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=DENVER

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



*INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS REJECTED A SUGGESTION BY RUSSIAN 

PRESIDENT BORIS YELTIN FOR EARLY ACTION TOWARD EASING U-N 

SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. THE TWO LEADERS HAD A TELEPHONE 

CONVERSATION SATURDAY. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM 

DENVER, COLORADO..



TEXT: SENIOR WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY MR. YELTSIN -- IN A 

40-MINUTE TALK WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON -- PROPOSED A PHASED 

REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS AS VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF THE U-N WEAPONS 

SEARCH ARE CONCLUDED.



BUT THEY SAY MR. CLINTON, WHILE EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR RUSSIAN 

DIPLOMATIC SUPPORT IN THE INSPECTIONS CRISIS, SAID THERE HAS TO 

BE FULL COMPLIANCE BY IRAQ WITH THE RELEVENT U-N RESOLUTIONS    

BEFORE THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS IS CONSIDERED.



IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS IN DENVER, MR. CLINTON SAID THE ISSUE OF

IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS AT THE 

U-N, AND NOT THE POLITICIANS:



                               ///CLINTON ACT///



         WHAT I EMPHASIZED TO PRESIDENT YELTSIN IS: WE HAVE COME 

         A LONG WAY BY WORKING TOGETHER. AND WE HAVE TO CONTINUE 

         WORKING TOGETHER. AND THE DECISIONS ABOUT WHAT TO DO 

         WITH THE INSPECTIONS SHOULD BE MADE BASED ON THE 

         EVIDENCE, THE FACTS, AND THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT OF 

         THE INSPECTORS. NEITHER THE POLITICAL INCLINATIONS OF 

         THE UNITED STATES NOR OF OUR ALLIES SHOULD CONTROL THOSE

         DECISIONS. 



                                   ///END ACT///



MR. CLINTON SAID HE SHARED PRESIDENT YELTSIN'S CONCERN ABOUT 

HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS IN IRAQ, AND SUPPORTS AN EXPANSION OF THE

U-N SUPERVISED PROGRAM UNDER WHICH IRAQ HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO SELL 

OIL TO FINANCE FOOD AND MEDICINE PURCHASES.



BUT HE SAID THE MOST IMPORTANT THING NOW IS TO PUT THE INSPECTORS

BACK TO WORK AND WITHOUT IMPEDIMENTS.



A SENIOR ADMINISTRATION  OFFICIAL WHO SPOKE TO REPORTERS ENROUTE 

TO DENVER SAID THE U-N SHOULD REJECT IRAQ'S CONTINUNING 

INSISTENCE THAT SO-CALLED PRESIDENTIAL SITES IN THE COUNTRY BE 

OFF-LIMITS TO THE INSPECTORS. 



HE SAID SADDAM HUSSIEN HAS 47-DIFFERENT PRESIDENTIAL PALACES 

INCLUDING ONE COMPOUND ROUGHLY THE SAME SIZE AS THE CITY OF 

WASHINGTON, D-C. WE ARE NOT TALKING, HE SAID, ABOUT LITTLE 

COUNTRY HOMES.



HE SAID THE CLINTON-YELTSIN CONVERSATION DEALT WITH OTHER ISSUES 

INCLUDING THE STALLED EFFORT TO GET RUSSIAN RATIFICATION OF THE 

START-TWO STRATEGIC ARMS TREATY. THE OFFICIAL SAID PRESIDENT 

YELTSIN PROMISED A NEW EFFORT TO GET THE TREATY THROUGH 

PARLIAMENT, AFTER THE DUMA COMPLETES ITS CURRENT DEBATE ON THE 

RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT BUDGET.



MR. CLINTON STOPPED HERE ON THE WAY TO THE 18-NATION PACIFIC-RIM 

ECONOMIC SUMMIT IN VANCOUVER CANADA EXPECTED TO BE DOMINATED BY 

EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH THE TURMOIL IN ASIAN FINANCIAL MARKETS. 

(SIGNED)



NEB/DAG/SD



22-Nov-97 4:32 PM EST (2132 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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