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June 1998

• U-S / IRAQ Voice of America 30 June 1998 -- A U-S FIGHTER JET OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ HAS FIRED ON AN IRAQI MILITARY TARGET AFTER IRAQI RADAR LOCKED ONTO A BRITISH WARPLANE IN THE NO FLY ZONE OVER SOUTHERN IRAQ.
• U-S MISSILE / IRAQ REACT Voice of America 30 June 1998 -- THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ DENIES ITS FORCES PROVOKED THE U-S MISSILE ATTACK ON AN IRAQI RADAR INSTALLATION TUESDAY.
• AMB. BILL RICHARDSON SAYS US FIRING AT IRAQI RADAR WAS APPROPRIATE By Judy Aita USIA 30 June 1998 -- US Ambassador Bill Richardson said June 30 that the firing at an Iraqi radar site was "simply an appropriate response" to Iraq's "violation of military protocol."
• Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen - DoD News Briefing Tuesday, June 30, 1998 - 1 p.m. (EDT) -- I believe there has been a pattern of deception and lying on the part of the Iraqis from the very beginning. They originally indicated they had no VX, had no anthrax. All of that of course has been proven to be incorrect. .... The situation is that at approximately 1:30 this morning four British aircraft were continuing their no-fly zone operations in the southern part of Iraq, during which time they were tracked by Iraqi radar and as a result of that tracking, a HARM missile was fired by a U.S. F-16 aircraft at the site.
• The Detainees in CA; Clinton Spinning on Iraq Iraq News 28 June 1998 -- By announcing himself 'encouraged,' Mr. Clinton in effect changed US policy toward Iraq. . . how in the world does pretending that Iraq is complying with UN resolutions strengthen the resolve of those nations?
• IRAQ SANCTIONS Voice of America 25 June 1998 -- THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED THAT SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ AFTER THE GULF WAR WILL REMAIN IN FORCE, DESPITE IRAQI CALLS FOR THE SANCTIONS TO BE LIFTED.
• U-N / IRAQ WEAPONS Voice of America 24 June 1998 -- THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING TALKS WEDNESDAY ON IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS, FOLLOWING NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT THAT COUNTRY'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS CAPABILITIES.
• NERVE GAS CONFIRMATION Voice of America 24 June 1998 -- THE UNITED NATIONS' CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR HAS CONFIRMED HIS TEAM DISCOVERED TRACES OF DEADLY V-X NERVE GAS ON IRAQI MISSILES, RAISING NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT IRAQ'S CLAIMS TO HAVE ELIMINATED ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
• TEXT: PRESIDENT'S REPORT ON IRAQ'S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH UNSC RESOLUTIONS 24 June 1998 -- In his report on the status of efforts to obtain Iraq's compliance with the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), covering the period from April 3 to the present, the President said he remains "determined to see Iraq comply fully with all of its obligations under UNSC resolutions."
• PBS INTV WITH UNSCOM CHIEF RICHARD BUTLER ON IRAQ , June 24, 1998, -- The chief UN weapons inspector in Iraq, Richard Butler of UNSCOM, says independent laboratory analysis of remnants of special Iraqi long-range missile warheads excavated in the desert northwest of Baghdad has confirmed that "some of those warheads had contained the chemical nerve agent VX."
• UNSCOM CHIEF SAYS IRAQ PUT CHEMICAL WEAPONS IN WARHEADS By Judy Aita, USIA 24 June 1998 -- The head of the UN Special Commission overseeing the destruction of Iraqi weapons (UNSCOM) told the Security Council June 24 that UNSCOM has "utterly, unambiguous" test results showing that Iraq put VX nerve gas in missile warheads.
• IRAQ / U-N TALKS Voice of America 23 June 1998 -- THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS. THE MEETING FOLLOWS REPORTS THAT IRAQ'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM IS MORE ADVANCED THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.
• Iraqi comments on the results of the analysis of the remnant warheads -- June 23, 1998 -- Iraq rejects these results categorically. The results cannot be accurate since Vx was not used in any kind of munitions in Iraq due to continuous production failure.
• PENTAGON - IRAQ-NERVE GAS Voice of America 23 June 1998 -- PENTAGON OFFICIALS NOW CONFIRM THAT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS FOUND TRACES OF A POWERFUL NERVE GAS ON DESTROYED MUNITIONS IN IRAQ. THE FINDING CONTRADICTS IRAQI CLAIMS THAT THEY NEVER TURNED DEADLY V-X GAS INTO A USABLE WEAPON.
• PENTAGON - IRAQ-NERVE GAS Voice of America 23 June 1998 -- PENTAGON OFFICIALS NOW CONFIRM THAT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS FOUND TRACES OF A POWERFUL NERVE GAS ON DESTROYED MUNITIONS IN IRAQ. THE FINDING CONTRADICTS IRAQI CLAIMS THAT THEY NEVER TURNED DEADLY V-X GAS INTO A USABLE WEAPON.
• IRAQ: 'LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL' ON SANCTIONS REGIME? USIA Foreign Media Reaction Report June 23, 1998 -- Arab editorial comment was considerably upbeat concerning reports that Chief UN weapons inspector Richard Butler and Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz were near agreement on a two-month "road map" for Iraq's compliance with UN weapons inspections.
• PENTAGON CONFIRMS THAT IRAQ PRODUCED VX NERVE GAS 23 June 1998 By Susan Ellis USIA Defense Department spokesman Ken Bacon confirmed a report carried in U.S. newspapers that the United Nations weapons inspectors have uncovered evidence that Iraq put VX into missile warheads before the 1991 Persian Gulf War. This contradicts claims by the Iraqi government that it was unable to make a weapon using the volatile nerve agent.
• DoD News Briefing Tuesday, June 23, 1998 - 1:30 p.m. -- Q: What about the report on the Army confirming that VX nerve gas was on missile parts found in March?
• [EXCERPTS] U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing 23 June 1998 -- IRAQ UNSCOM Finds Traces of Nerve Gas / Issue of Sanctions / Surveillance Results
• Nightline Tonight; Wash Post, Tariq Aziz, On Iraq's VX Program Iraq News 23 June 1998 -- The new indications of Iraqi deception also are likely to reverberate in US politics, where conservative Republicans are increasingly critical of what they see as a failure by the Clinton administration to support strongly either aggressive UNSCOM inspections for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction or efforts to overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
• Iraq's June 23 Threat & Various Iraq News 23 June 1998 -- Richard Butler, the chief UN weapons inspector, has shown signs of concern that he can no longer count on strong, unequivocal support from Washington and London.
• Letter of Republican Congressional Leadership to Clinton, On Iraq, Jun 22 Iraq News 22 June 1998 "We are deeply troubled by the apparent failure of the United States to fully support the work of the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq (UNSCOM)"
• IRAQ / ASSASSINATION Voice of America 21 June 1998 -- IRAQ IS BLAMING WHAT IT CALLS -- OUTSIDE FORCES -- FOR THE MURDER LAST WEEK OF AN IRANIAN CLERIC WHO WORKED AS A PRAYER LEADER AT A HOLY SITE NEAR BAGHDAD. BUT IRAN SAYS IRAQ'S GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.
• U-S / IRAQ OIL Voice of America 19 June 1998 -- THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT IS AWARE THAT IRAQI OIL IS BEING SMUGGLED INTO TURKEY IN VIOLATION OF U-N SANCTIONS, BUT SAYS THE QUANTITIES ARE NOT LARGE.
• U-N - IRAQ / DISPUTES Voice of America 18 June 1998 -- THERE ARE NEW SIGNS OF DIFFICULTY IN IRAQ'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL CONCERNING ISSUES OF DISARMAMENT AND OIL SALES.
• The Administration, Congress, and the Iraqi Opposition Iraq News 18 June 1998 -- DOS has underscored the fact that there are relatively few opposition groups who are actually working to bring democracy to Iraq.
• IRAQ BARS SOME ISSUES FROM UNSCOM WORK PROGRAM By Judy Aita USIA United Nations Correspondent 18 June 1998
• U-N / IRAQ TENSION Voice of America 17 June 1998 -- A TOP IRAQI DIPLOMAT SAYS HIS COUNTRY IS CONFIDENT THAT THE SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR WILL BE LIFTED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR, BUT WARNS A NEW CRISIS COULD DEVELOP IF THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN BY THAT TIME.
• UNSCOM REPORT TO UNSC ON JUNE 11-15 MISSION TO BAGHDAD, JUN 16 Iraq News 20 June 1998 -- Amb. Butler sent the UNSC a report on his talks in Baghdad. The report was sharply at odds with the optimistic remarks he had made there.
• MOMENTUM TO END IRAQ SANCTIONS REFLECTS WORLDWIDE PRESSURE International Action Center June 16, 1998 -- Growing worldwide sympathy for Iraq and increasing political isolation of the United States sanctions policy is making the continuation of this policy impossible, according to the International Action Center (IAC).
• More on Butler's Upbeat Remarks Iraq News 16 June 1998 -- IRAQI DISARMAMENT MOSTLY OVER BY AUGUST, KUWAIT BRIEFED ON IRAQ ARMS PLAN
• UNSCOM REPORT TO UNSC ON JUNE 11-15 MISSION TO BAGHDAD UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION 16 June 1998 --
• More on Butler's Upbeat Remarks By Laurie Mylroie Iraq News JUN 16, 1998 -- That Butler even gave Iraq a checklist represented a major UNSCOM concession. In the past, UNSCOM had avoided doing that, as it opens avenues for more Iraqi deception. Still, one reader suggested that this just means another crisis in Aug. But perhaps not. Perhaps, Butler is tired of crises in which UNSCOM is left hung out to dry.
• UNSCOM REPORT TO UNSC ON JUNE 11-15 MISSION TO BAGHDAD UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION The Executive Chairman 16 June 1998
• IRAQ / U-N MONDAY Voice of America 15 June 1998 -- IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE AGREED ON A TWO-MONTH PROGRAM AIMED AT DETERMING WHETHER IRAQ HAS DESTROYED ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
• IRAQ / U-N SUNDAY Voice of America 14 June 1998 -- THE UNITED NATIONS CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR, RICHARD BUTLER, HELD A SECOND DAY OF TALKS IN IRAQ SUNDAY. U-N OFFICIALS INITIALLY ARE EXPRESSING SATISFACTION WITH THE IRAQI RESPONSE.
• IRAQ / U-N SATURDAY Voice of America 13 June 1998 -- THE UNITED NATIONS' CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR IS PRESENTING A LIST OF STEPS IRAQ MUST TAKE IN ORDER TO BRING ABOUT AN EVENTUAL END TO ECONOMIC SANCTIONS.
• IRAQ / U-N Voice of America 11 June 1998 -- THE U-N'S CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER HAS RETURNED TO IRAQ FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS AIMED AT ELIMINATING WHAT REMAINS OF IRAQ'S PROHIBITED WEAPONS PROGRAM.
• DoD News Briefing Tuesday, June 9, 1998 - A: The long term, which in this case is October, is the next... October is the next sanctions review. What Ambassador Butler was trying to do was convince Iraq that there are very clear, definable steps that it can and should take in order to complete the type of actions that are necessary to win a consideration of lifting the sanctions.
• IRAQIS AGAINST SADDAM -- 09 June 1998 -- Voice of America IRAQIS WHO ARE OPPOSED TO SADDAM HUSSEIN HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING PROTESTS IN VARIOUS U-S CITIES WITH THE AIM OF HIS EVENTUAL OVERTHROW. BUT ANALYSTS SAY THEY ARE A LONG WAY FROM REACHING THEIR GOAL.
• Kuwait, Arab League Protest Iraqi Statement on Kuwait Border Voice of America By Laurie Mylroie Iraq News JUNE 8, 1998 RAMADAN STATEMENT ON IRAQ-KUWAIT BORDER, KUWAIT PROTESTS RAMADAN'S STATEMENT, ARAB LEAGUE SEC GEN PROTESTS RAMADAN'S STATEMENT, RAMADAN DENIES HIS STATEMENT
• Letters of H.E. Mr. Saddam Hussein President of the Republic of Iraq to the Prime Minister of India and the Prime Minister of Pakistan on June 6, 1998 regarding nuclear testing
• Position of Iraq on the Work with UNSCOMDelegation of the Republic of Iraq -- Friday June 5, 1998 - In view of the discussions held during the past few days with UNSCOM and within the Security Council, it seems clear that UNSCOM should be able to report finally under paragraph (22) of SCR 687(1991) that Iraq has fulfilled all the requirements contemplated in section C of that resolution.
• PRESS CONFERENCE BY FOREIGN MINISTER OF IRAQ - 05 June 1998 -- Declaring that Iraq was suffering from the severest sanctions in human history, its Foreign Minister, Mohammed Said Al-Sahaf, said at a Headquarters briefing today that it was time for the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM) to work with Iraqi officials and the Security Council to quickly deem complete the process of eliminating Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.
• IRAQ / U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 05 June 1998 Voice of America -- IRAQ SAYS IT IS CONVINCED THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS LOSING PATIENCE WITH THE U-N INSPECTION TEAM CHARGED WITH SEARCHING FOR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ.
• IRAQ / WEAPONS 04 June 1998 Voice of America -- U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER SAYS HE BELIEVES IRAQ COULD MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS THIS YEAR TOWARDS THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR.
• IRAQ STILL A THREAT TO REGION, RICHARDSON SAYS 04 June 1998 By Judy Aita USIA -- The United States believes that "Iraq still represents a threat to its neighbors and this is why it should be contained," US Ambassador Bill Richardson said June 4 after attending a two-day briefing by the UN Special Commission overseeing the destruction of Iraqi weapons (UNSCOM).
• TRANSCRIPT: PICKERING 6/4 PRESS CONFERENCE IN BAHRAIN 04 June 1998 -- "Iraq under Saddam Hussein continues to be a threat that must, and will be, contained," Thomas R. Pickering, under secretary of state for political affairs, said at a press conference here June 4.
• IRAQ / U-N INSPECTIONS 04 June 1998 Voice of America -- U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS BILL RICHARDSON SAYS IRAQ MAY BE IN POSSESSION OF DEADLY NERVE GAS AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS IN VIOLATION OF SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
• PRESS BRIEFING BY UNSCOM EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN - 04 June 1998 -- The Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM), Richard Butler, told correspondents at a Headquarters press briefing this afternoon that, depending on the quality of Iraq's cooperation, the Council might receive in October the long-awaited report concerning the Commission's completion of its disarmament efforts there.
• AMB. RICHARD BUTLER'S PRESENTATION TO THE UNSC, JUN 3 Iraq News, By Laurie Mylroie - 11 June 1998 -- On Jun 3 and 4, Butler presented to the UNSC a review of Iraq's proscribed programs. "Iraq News" has excerpted the bulk of that presentation and an informal, unofficial version follows.
• UNSCOM BRIEFING SHATTERS IRAQI CREDIBILITY, RICHARDSON SAYS By Judy Aita USIA 03 June 1998 -- A detailed technical briefing by the UN weapons inspectors on what Iraq has to do before sanctions can be lifted "dealt a devastating blow" to Iraq's credibility, US Ambassador Bill Richardson said June 3.
• U-N / IRAQ ARMS Voice of America 03 June 1998 -- U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS BILL RICHARDSON SAYS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED DISTURBING NEW INFORMATION ABOUT IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS, MAKING IT CLEAR BAGHDAD IS NOT CLOSE TO HAVING SANCTIONS LIFTED.
• PICKERING JUNE 2 KUWAIT TV INTERVIEW ON IRAQ USIA 03 June 1998 -- Saddam Hussein is continuing to cause very serious problems in the Gulf region, and "therefore, we must reaffirm and reinforce our strategy of dealing with this particular difficulty through diplomacy backed up by a firm threat of use of force," Thomas Pickering, under secretary of state for political affairs, said June 2.
• PICKERING JUNE 2 INTERVIEW WITH KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY 03 June 1998 -- Regarding Iraq, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering said, "on the basis of past experience with Saddam that it is not possible to rule out the possibility of further confrontations and difficulties."
• Presentation of the Delegation of the Republic of Iraq before an Informal Meeting of the Members of the Security Council June 2, 1998 -- "The theory of concealment seems to be the only dynamic governing the work of UNSCOM at present with the result that no weight whatsoever is given to the tangible results achieved in the field whether material balance, destruction or lack of any discovery which proves concealment. ... The Commission is espousing the theory of concealment as a reasoning tool to conclude that verification is impossible at present.... UNSCOM has expanded the concept of verification, introduced the incomprehensible distinction between “ positive” and “ negative” verification... We have heard so much about Vx and the hundreds of tons Iraq may have produced and concealed that we do not exactly know what the Commission's position really means.... Iraq maintains that the FFCD of September 1997 is true in every respect and the data given whenever documents could be found are accurate.... Since UNSCOM is not a criminal court, it seems strange that it places us in a situation of ‘ double jeopardy’, in the sense that not only we have to provide it with the unavailable, but also to defend ourselves against the unknown that is alleged to be had against us."
• DoD News Briefing Tuesday, June 2, 1998 " ... we're down from 290 aircraft in the theater to 275 in late... 290 in late May, May 28th, to 275 today. Some B-52s have left, a B-1 has left, and some support aircraft have left. Eight B-52s, one B-1, one KC-10, a couple of HC-130s, and an E-3."
• Kadena fighters to support Operation Southern Watch : Jun 1, 1998 (AFNS) -- Nearly 300 Kadena people and several F-15 aircraft deployed May 26 to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch.

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