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26 February 1998

• PRESS BRIEFING BY EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF UNSCOM "The text contained provisions ensuring UNSCOM's access to eight presidential sites within Iraq. The arrangements for access, set forth principally in paragraph 4 of the text, had been the subject of some misunderstanding and misrepresentation. However he stressed that the arrangements were entirely satisfactory to him and to the Commission."
• BUTLER/ IRAQ AGREEMENT Voice of America 26 February 1998 THE HEAD OF THE INSPECTION TEAM CHARGED WITH DESTROYING IRAQ'S BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS, RICHARD BUTLER, SAYS THE AGREEMENT STRUCK BY SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IN BAGHDAD EARLIER IN THE WEEK STRENGTHENS HIS WORK.
• ALBRIGHT / SENATE / IRAQ Voice of America 26 February 1998 - THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS STILL PREPARED TO USE FORCE IF NECESSARY TO MAKE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT ACCEPT UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. BUT THE U-N AGREEMENT TO SETTLE THE CRISIS PEACEFULLY IS MEETING MORE OPPOSITION ON CAPITOL HILL.
• IRAQ/BRITISH RESOLUTION Voice of America 26 February 1998 - BRITAIN IS CIRCULATING A DRAFT RESOLUTION IN THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNICL WARNING IRAQ OF THE "SEVEREST CONSEQUENCES" IF IT DOES NOT LIVE UP TO THE AGREEMENT SIGNED WITH U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN EARLIER THIS WEEK.
• U-N IRAQ PACT AVERTS ATTACK, BUT IS IT PEACE?Voice of America 26 February 1998 DIFFERENT JOURNALISTS HAVE DIFFERING ASSESSMENTS ON WHOM HAD SCORED THE GREATER 'VICTORY' -- BILL CLINTON OR SADDAM HUSSEIN.
• DoD News Briefing Mr. Kenneth H. Bacon, ASD PA Thursday, February 26, 1998 - 1:45 p.m. "I think that members of Congress are understandably suspicious of the Iraqi regime and any agreement that it would sign. However, this agreement does provide us with important authorities that UNSCOM did not have before, and the most principal one is that it explicitly says that all sites have to be open to inspectors and it doesn't set any limit on those sites."
• DON'T BASH THE UN, ALBRIGHT SAYS, TEST THE UN-IRAQ ACCORD By Jane A. Morse USIA Diplomatic Correspondent 26 February 1998 -- Secretary of State Albright urged the U.S. Congress to give the UN-Iraq accord a chance to be tested as she countered criticisms made by Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (Republican-Mississippi) during a press conference she held on Capitol Hill February 25.
• RICHARDSON PLEASED WITH UN ANSWERS ON UNSCOM By Judy Aita USIA United Nations Correspondent 26 February 1998 -- U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson said February 26 that he is "heartened" by the explanations he has received from the United Nations on the operational details of the agreement signed by Secretary General Kofi Annan and Iraq a few days ago.
• HELMS PROPOSES NAVAL BLOCKADE ON IRAQ AS ALTERNATIVE TO BOMBING Senator Jesse Helms (Republican-North Carolina) has proposed, as an alternative to bombing, a U.S. naval blockade on Iraq cutting off all commerce, including food. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said February 26 that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan "gave away the store" in making a deal last weekend with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on weapons inspections.
• US WANTS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON NEW IRAQ AGREEMENT By Judy Aita USIA United Nations Correspondent - 26 February 1998 -- U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson said February 26 that the United States wants the Security Council to adopt a resolution warning Iraq it faces serious consequences if it breaks the new agreement with the U.N.
• DHANAPALA APPOINTED HEAD OF SPECIAL UNSCOM INSPECTION GROUP By Judy Aita USIA United Nations Correspondent -- 26 February 1998 -- An internationally known disarmament expert has been selected by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to head the new special group of diplomats and weapons inspectors that will visit Iraq's presidential sites.
• How Iraq's Biological Weapons Program Came to Light By WILLIAM J. BROAD and JUDITH MILLER The New York Times 26 February 1998 - The story of the seven-year hunt for secret biological weapons, as recounted by U.S., U.N. and private experts, suggests that the inspectors may have a rocky time. It also shows why they believe that Baghdad is still hiding missiles and germ weapons, and the means to make both.
• Top G.O.P. Senator Opposes U.N. Deal on Iraq Inspections By ERIC SCHMITT The New York Times 26 February 1998 - Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., urged President Clinton on Wednesday to reject the U.N. accord with Iraq, while the administration worked on bolting down precise details.
• C.I.A. Drafts Covert Plan to Topple Saddam By TIM WEINER The New York Times 26 February 1998 - The CIA has drafted plans for a major program of sabotage and subversion against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. But some of the president's advisers consider the new plan no more likely to succeed than the agency's earlier efforts.

FAS | News | Iraq | 1998 | Feb |||| Index | Search |