DATE=2/16/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226809
TITLE=GULF DIPLOMACY (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=BAHRAIN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  WHILE THE BUILDUP CONTINUES FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION 
AGAINST IRAQ, URGENT ACTIVITY CONTINUES ON THE DIPLOMATIC FRONT, 
AS WELL.  V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER IS IN THE GULF STATE OF BAHRAIN AND 
HAS A REPORT.  

TEXT:  HERE IN BAHRAIN, THE ENGLISH-LANGUAGE GULF DAILY NEWS 
CARRIED A FRONT PAGE REPORT ON THIS COUNTRY'S SUPPORT FOR A 
LAST-DITCH MISSION TO BAGHDAD BY UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL
KOFI ANNAN.

THE BAHRAIN CABINET ON SUNDAY SAID IT WELCOMED AN ATTEMPT BY MR. 
ANNAN AND WISHED HIM SUCCESS.

JORDAN'S FOREIGN MINISTER, SPEAKING IN AMMAN, WAS BLUNTER.  HE 
SAID A POSSIBLE MISSION TO BAGHDAD BY THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL 
WOULD BE THE LAST CHANCE, THE LAST CARD IN THE HAND.  HE 
DESCRIBED MR. ANNAN AS PERHAPS THE ONLY ONE CAPABLE OF REACHING A
POLITICAL SOLUTION.

JORDAN HAS ECHOED CALLS FROM WESTERN AND GULF ARAB STATES FOR 
BAGHDAD TO COMPLY WITH UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL DEMANDS 
THAT IT ALLOW FREE INSPECTION OF SUSPECTED SITES WHERE CHEMICAL 
AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE COMPONENTS MAY BE HIDDEN.

IRAQ IS ALSO BUSY WITH DIPLOMACY.  FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMAD 
SAEED AS-SAHAF STOPPED IN LEBANON, THE FOURTH LEG OF A TOUR OF 
THE REGION THAT INCLUDED VISITS TO JORDAN, EGYPT AND SYRIA TRYING
TO DRUM UP SUPPORT.  ANOTHER IRAQI ENVOY, DEPUTY PRIME MINSITER 
MAHAMMAD HAMZA AL ZUBEIDI HAS BEEN TOURING NORTH AFRICA ON THE 
SAME MISSION.

IRAQ'S MESSAGE IS THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE UP THE EVIDENCE
THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS BEEN BUILDING AND HIDING GERM WARFARE 
AGENTS AND POISON GAS.

FOREIGN MINISTER AS SAHAF EXPRESSED HOPE THE UNITED NATIONS 
SECRETARY GENERAL CAN COME UP WITH WHAT HE CALLED -- AN OBJECTIVE
FORMULA -- TO ALLOW U-N INSPECTORS TO SURVEY SUSPECTED SITES.  
IRAQ HAS PREVENTED SUCH INSPECTIONS IN THE PAST.  

THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE INSISTED THAT IRAQ COMPLY 
FULLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AND  NOT  TRY TO 
DICTATE THE TERMS OF THE INSPECTIONS.

MEANWHILE, THE MOOD HERE IN BAHRAIN, HALF WAY DOWN THE GULF FROM 
IRAQ, APPEARS, ON THE SURFACE, CALM.  BUT LIKE SOME OTHER ARAB 
GULF STATES BAHRAIN SEEMS TO BE HOPING SOMETHING -- PERHAPS 
DIPLOMACY -- WILL PREVENT THE NAVAL ARMADA THAT HAS GATHERED OFF 
ITS SHORES FROM ACTUALLY HAVING TO GO INTO ACTION.  (SIGNED)

NEB/MGB/MMK

16-Feb-98 9:12 AM EST (1412 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.