DATE=2/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226958
TITLE=IRAQ / FRANCE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS-
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  FRANCE SAYS IT IS STILL  NOT  TOO LATE TO FIND A PEACEFUL
SOLUTION TO THE IRAQI CRISIS.  JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS THE 
FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE BELIEVES IRAQ STILL MAY 
COMPROMISE.  

TEXT:  AMONG THE MAJOR WESTERN PARTNERS IN THE ALLIED COALITION 
THAT WENT TO WAR AGAINST IRAQ IN 1991, FRANCE HAS BEEN LEADING 
EFFORTS TO FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT CRISIS.

THIS WEEK, THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER HAS BEEN IN PARIS AND 
RECEIVED A WARNING FROM FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC THAT 
"TIME IS RUNNING OUT" FOR IRAQ.

NOW THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS DUE TO PASS THROUGH 
THE FRENCH CAPITAL ON HIS WAY TO BAGHDAD FOR LAST-CHANCE TALKS TO
HEAD OFF AMERICAN-LED AIR STRIKES ON SUSPECTED CHEMICAL AND 
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PLANTS IN IRAQ.

WITH THE DANGER OF MILITARY ACTION GROWING BY THE DAY, THE FRENCH
GOVERNMENT IS SUDDENLY MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE CHANCES OF A 
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.

IN A RADIO INTERVIEW, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE 
NOTED THAT IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAD BACKED DOWN BEFORE 
IN PREVIOUS CRISES. THEN, AS NOW, THESE CONCERNED HIS REFUSAL TO 
ALLOW U-N ARMS INSPECTORS TO EXAMINE IRAQ'S ARMS MANUFACTURING ON
THE GROUND.

MR. VEDRINE SAID THE IRAQI LEADER MIGHT STILL PROVE TO BE 
"SENSITIVE" TO THE MESSAGES HE HAS BEEN RECEIVING, INCLUDING 
CALLS FROM FRANCE FOR HIM TO RESPECT U-N RESOLUTIONS.

MR. VEDRINE'S SPOKESWOMAN SAID, MEANWHILE, THAT FRANCE IS PLACING
A LOT OF HOPE IN MR. ANNAN'S VISIT TO BAGHDAD.  SHE SAID PARIS 
FELT THAT THE BACKING MR. ANNAN HAS RECEIVED FROM THE SECURITY 
COUNCIL GIVES HIM THE NECESSARY MANDATE FOR SUCCESS.

HOWEVER, FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY THAT PRESIDENT CHIRAC WAS VERY 
DISAPPOINTED BY THE REPLY HE RECEIVED THIS WEEK FROM SADDAM 
HUSSEIN TO A MESSAGE HE SENT VIA A SPECIAL ENVOY TWO WEEKS AGO. 

THE FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY THE IRAQI REPLY, WHILE FAVORING A 
DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION, OFFERS  NO  NEW IDEAS  NOR  DOES IT ACCEPT 
FRENCH CALLS TO RESPECT THE WISHES OF THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY. 

AS FRENCH PRIME MINISTER LIONEL  JOSPIN  REPEATED FRANCE'S DESIRE
FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION AFTER THIS WEEK'S CABINET MEETING, OTHER 
FRENCH OFFICIALS SAID THE ISSUE NOW IS TO CONVINCE IRAQ THAT IT 
CAN ABIDE BY U-N RESOLUTIONS WITHOUT ANY LOSS OF FACE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JWN/JWH/KL

18-Feb-98 3:16 PM EST (2016 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.