DATE=2/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226882
TITLE= IRAQ FRANCE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC WARNED IRAQ TUESDAY THAT 
TIME IS RUNNING OUT IN THE SEARCH FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE 
CRISIS BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND THE UNITED NATIONS.  DETAILS FROM 
JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS. 

TEXT:  IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED SAID EL-SAHAF -- IN PARIS
(TUESDAY) TO DELIVER A MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TO 
THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT -- PROMISED THAT IRAQ WILL GIVE WHAT HE 
CALLS A "POSITIVE" RECEPTION TO "BALANCED PROPOSALS."

FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC, BREAKING WITH THE USUAL 
PROTOCOL, ASKED TO SEE THE IRAQI MINISTER TO EXPRESS HIS FEARS 
ABOUT THE CURRENT CRISIS. THE IRAQI MINISTER WAS BRINGING A REPLY
TO A MESSAGE THAT MR. CHIRAC SENT SADDAM HUSSEIN LAST MONTH. 

AS MR. CHIRAC RECEIVED MR. SAHAF, HIS OFFICE ISSUED A STATEMENT 
SAYING IRAQ FACES "VERY SERIOUS RISKS" BUT THAT A DIPLOMATIC 
SOLUTION IS STILL POSSIBLE.  THE STATEMENT SAID THE UNITED 
NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SHOULD VISIT BAGHDAD THIS 
WEEK. 

FRANCE, IT SAID, BELIEVES THAT ALL DIPLOMATIC OPTIONS WILL NOT 
HAVE BEEN EXPLORED UNTIL THE U-N CHIEF VISITS IRAQ.  BUT, MR. 
CHIRAC'S STATEMENT SAID, "TIME IS RUNNING OUT."

SINCE THE CURRENT CRISIS AND THE ACCOMPANYING THREATS OF 
AMERICAN-LED AIR STRIKES ON PLANTS WHERE IRAQ IS SUSPECTED OF 
MAKING CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, FRANCE HAS BEEN THE ONLY 
MAJOR WESTERN POWER PLAYING A DIPLOMATIC ROLE.

ALTHOUGH FRANCE AGREES THAT IRAQ SHOULD COMPLY WITH U-N 
RESOLUTIONS AND ALLOW INSPECTIONS OF ITS WEAPONS SITES, IT IS 
FIRMLY OPPOSED TO MILITARY ACTION.

FRANCE WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL U-N COALITION THAT FOUGHT IRAQ IN
1991 AFTER ITS INVASION OF KUWAIT,  BUT FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY THEY
BELIEVE THE SITUATION IS FAR DIFFERENT NOW AND THAT MILITARY 
ACTION IS INAPPROPRIATE.  MR. CHIRAC SAID LAST WEEK THAT THE 
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SHOULD SEEK A SETTLEMENT TO AVOID 
"KILLING WOMEN AND CHILDREN."

AS THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER PREPARED FOR MORE TALKS WITH OTHER 
FRENCH OFFICIALS, HE SAID AFTER SEEING MR. CHIRAC THAT IRAQ HOPED
THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL'S VISIT WOULD BRING RESULTS. MR. SAHAF 
SAID BAGHDAD WANTS AN INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS THAT COULD LEAD TO 
A POLITICAL SOLUTION.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JN/PCF

17-Feb-98 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.