DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227164
TITLE=FRANCE / IRAQ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JULIAN NUNDY
DATELINE=PARIS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS TO STOP (MONDAY) IN 
PARIS ON HIS WAY BACK TO NEW YORK TO EXPLAIN HIS AGREEMENT WITH 
IRAQ TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  JULIAN NUNDY IN PARIS REPORTS 
FRENCH OFFICIALS CONSIDER THE AGREEMENT AS A VINDICATION OF THE 
FRENCH PUSH FOR A PEACEFUL SOLUTION TO THE IRAQI ARMS CRISIS. 

TEXT:  ALL THROUGH THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ, FRANCE HAS TRIED TO HELP
FIND A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN THE HOPE OF AVERTING AMERICAN-LED 
AIR STRIKES AGAINST SUSPECTED IRAQI ARMS SITES. 

WITH THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN PASSING THROUGH PARIS 
ON HIS WAY BACK TO NEW YORK TO PRESENT HIS PEACE PLAN TO THE 
SECURITY COUNCIL, SOME SENIOR FRENCH OFFICIALS NONETHELESS 
REMAINED CAUTIOUS ABOUT THE CHANCES FOR FULL SUCCESS. 

MR. ANNAN HELD TALKS WITH FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC ON HIS 
OUTWARD JOURNEY TO BAGHDAD.  BUT HE DID  NOT  SCHEDULE ANY 
FURTHER TALKS WITH FRENCH LEADERS DURING THE RETURN LEG.  HE 
TRAVELED TO AND FROM IRAQ IN A FRENCH GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT. 

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER HUBERT VEDRINE SAID HE HOPES THE 
AGREEMENT WILL MEET ALL THE DEMANDS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL. THE 
KEY ISSUE IS TO SATISFY AMERICAN DEMANDS FOR FREE ACCESS TO 
SUSPECTED CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ARMS PLANTS FOR U-N INSPECTION 
TEAMS.

A FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN WAS MORE UPBEAT. SPEAKING 
AT A PRESS BRIEFING SHE DESCRIBED MR. ANNAN'S AGREEMENT WITH 
IRAQI LEADERS AS "A GREAT STEP FORWARD."

IN BUDAPEST, FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER ALAIN RICHARD SAID THE 
RESULTS OF MR. ANNAN'S MISSION VINDICATE FRENCH POLICY.  HE 
SUMMED THIS UP AS A PREFERENCE FOR DIPLOMATIC CONTACT AND THE 
SEARCH FOR A UNIFIED POSITION AMONG MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY 
COUNCIL.

ALTHOUGH FRANCE HAS SAID IT AGREES THAT IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM 
HUSSEIN MUST ALLOW FREE INSPECTION OF ARMS PLANTS, IT HAS 
QUESTIONED THE LIKELY EFFECTIVENESS OF AIR STRIKES AND EXPRESSED 
FEARS THAT THEY COULD CAUSE MASSIVE CIVILIAN CASUALTIES. 

FOR SOME YEARS, FRANCE HAS BEEN ARGUING THAT IRAQ SHOULD BE 
OFFERED WHAT IT CALLS "A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL." THIS 
WOULD INVOLVE AN END TO THE INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER
IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWAIT IN 1990 IN EXCHANGE FOR ALLOWING ARMS 
CHECKS.

THE FRENCH DEFENSE MINISTER SAID THAT IF MR. ANNAN'S AGREEMENT 
LEADS TO SATISFACTORY CONDITIONS FOR U-N ARMS INSPECTIONS IN 
IRAQ, THEN AN END TO TRADE SANCTIONS COULD BE IN SIGHT.  (SIGNED)

NEB/JWN/JWH

23-Feb-98 12:01 PM EST (1701 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.