DATE=  11/11/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222509

TITLE=CZECH / IRAQ ARMS (S-ONLY)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON 

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:   A PUBLISHED REPORT SAYS IRAQ MAY BE TRYING TO ACQUIRE 

EQUIPMENT FROM A COMPANY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC THAT WOULD ALLOW 

BAGHDAD TO DETECT AMERICAN RADAR-EVADING JETS, SUCH AS THE F-117 

FIGHTER-BOMBER.   V-O-A'S NICK SIMEONE HAS MORE ON A REPORT THAT 

HAS DRAWN THE ATTENTION OF THE PENTAGON.



TEXT:   THE WASHINGTON TIMES (NEWSPAPER) QUOTES UNIDENTIFIED U-S 

OFFICIALS AS SAYING THEY ARE WORKING TO BLOCK IRAQ FROM 

PURCHASING NEARLY 400-MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF THE CZECH-MADE 

WARFARE SYSTEMS TOUTED AS BEING ABLE TO DETECT RADAR-EVADING 

AIRCRAFT.      



IT WAS THE PENTAGON'S F-117 STEALTH FIGHTER-BOMBERS THAT FLEW 

UNDETECTED OVER IRAQ DURING THE GULF WAR, STRIKING AT IRAQI 

TARGETS WITHOUT TAKING ANY HITS FROM GROUND FIRE.  



THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS  NOT  OFFICIALLY COMMENTING ON THE 

ACCURACY OF THE REPORT.  BUT A PENTAGON SPOKESMAN SAYS THE CZECH 

REPUBLIC WOULD BE ILL-ADVISED TO ALLOW SUCH A SALE TO GO THROUGH 

AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY HAS JUST BEEN INVITED TO JOIN NATO.



THE CZECH GOVERNMENT CALLS THE REPORT ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.  

ALEXANDER VONDRA IS PRAGUE'S AMBASSADOR IN WASHINGTON. 



                        // VONDRA ACT //



         THERE ARE NO -- AND THERE WILL NOT BE ANY -- SALES OF 

         THE SENSITIVE MATERIAL LIKE THAT TO IRAQ AT ALL.  THE 

         CZECH GOVERNMENT WOULD NEVER AGREE WITH SALES LIKE THAT.



                          // END ACT //



SUCH A SALE, HE SAYS, WOULD NEED THE APPROVAL OF THE CZECH 

GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS PART OF THE ANTI-IRAQ GULF WAR COALITION. 

(SIGNED) 



NEB/NJS/RRM



11-Nov-97 4:07 PM EST (2107 UTC)

NNNN



Source: Voice of America

.