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September 1998

• U-N / IRAQ / INSPECTIONS Voice of America 30 September 1998 -- IRAQ ISSUED A NEW CALL FOR THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR, BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY NEW PROPOSALS FOR ENDING THE CURRENT DEADLOCK OVER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
• STATEMENT MOHAMMED SAID AL-SAHAF, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF IRAQ, 53RD SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, 30 September 1998 -- The imbalance caused on the international level by a unipolar system whereby a sole dominant player in the international arena seeks to impose its hegemony on the international community. This sole Power has no concern for nothing beyond its narrow, selfish interests and its efforts to impose its hegemony on the international institutions and organizations.
• UNSCOM NOT REPORTING FACTS ABOUT IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH COUNCIL RULES, IRAQ FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS, WELCOMING REVIEW UNDER SECRETARY-GENERAL 30 September 1998 Press Release GA/9459 -- As a way out of the current impasse, Iraq welcomed the Secretary-General's proposal for a comprehensive review of sanctions by the Security Council.
• White House Briefing September 30, 1998 --We are aware of the allegations that Iraq retained weapons-related components, but we can't confirm the specific allegation that they have required those devices.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing , SEPTEMBER 30, 1998 - IRAQ Reports of Iraqi Nuclear Capability UNSCOM Documents, Accord Between Kurdish Leaders
• "Iraq Liberation Act" introduced into Congress Iraq News 29 September 1998 -- Congress, on a bi-partisan basis, is fed up with the Clinton administration's do-nothing policy on Iraq. Today, the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998" was introduced into the Senate and House. Those introducing the bill in the Senate were Sen. Majority Leader, Trent Lott, [R, Miss], Sen. Bob Kerrey, [D. Ne], Sen. John McCain [R, Az], Sen. Joseph Lieberman [D Conn] and Sen. Jon Kyl [R, Az]. Those introducing the bill in the House were Rep. Benjamin Gilman [R, NY] and Rep. Christopher Cox [R, Ca]
• Developments Iraq News 29 September 1998 -- An Iraqi delegation, headed by Tariq Aziz, arrived in NYC over the weekend. The delegation included presidential adviser, Lt. Gen. Amir Al-Saadi, responsible for CBW, and Oil Minister, Gen. Amir Rashid, responsible for missiles.
• Iraq swears by French, Swiss tests on nerve gas The Times of India 29 September 1998 - Iraq has said that French and Swiss laboratory tests on Iraqi warhead fragments prove that it never equipped its missiles with the deadly VX nerve gas.
• U-N / IRAQ INSPECTIONS Voice of America 28 September 1998 -- IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ REITERATED HIS GOVERNMENT'S STAND THAT IRAQ HAS MET ALL U-N DISARMAMENT REQUIREMENTS. HE SAID SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR SHOULD THEREFORE BE LIFTED.
• Various Developments Iraq News 20 September 1998 -- US policy on Iraq remains the mystery wrapped in an enigma described by former UN ambassador, Jeane Kirkpatrick; former Sec State, Lawrence Eagleburger; and former CIA Director, James Woolsey; in hearings before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
• PRESS BRIEFING BY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR SANDY BERGER September 18, 1998 -- If Saddam Hussein takes the further step of expelling the UNSCOM inspectors in the first instance, I believe the U.N. Security Council ought to act to gain compliance. If they fail to do that, we will obviously have to face a number of decisions.
• DoD News Briefing, September 17, 1998 Q: There have been some reports that Swiss and French laboratories failed to confirm what a U.S. Army laboratory found on some Iraqi warhead parts. Does the U.S. stand behind its findings of VX on these Iraqi warhead parts?
• Wolfowitz, to House Nat'l Security Committee, on Iraq Policy Iraq News 17 September 1998 -- Former Undersecretary of Defense in the Bush administration, Paul Wolfowitz, testified yesterday before the House National Security Committee. Wolfowitz began by praising Scott Ritter.
• Israelis Warn of Saddam Danger Iraq News 17 September 1998 -- Once free of inspectors, Iraq will renew within two years the production of chemical and biological warfare materials and will have the capability of building simple nuclear devices within three to four years.
• RCC on UNSCOM, UNSCR 1194 Iraq News 16 September 1998 -- The RCC/Party leadership issued a statement today, regarding its position on UNSCR 1194 and UNSCOM. As Iraq TV reported, it called on the UNSC to retract the resolution, while "the leadership believes that the National Assembly's resolutions and recommendations must be put into implementation at the proper time. The timeframe will be shortened if the United States and Britain persist with their hostile positions."
• Sept 9 Senate hearing; Dvlpts Iraq News 14 September 1998 -- Evidence mounts that Sen. John Kerry [D. Ma] was correct, when he said at the Sept 3 Scott Ritter hearing that Saddam's aim is to build proscribed unconventional weapons, not to get sanctions lifted.
• Nat'l Assembly Decision on UNSCOM/IAEA Iraq News 14 September 1998 -- In a statement issued today at the conclusion of its extraordinary session the National Assembly authorized the Iraqi leadership to take the appropriate measures that would guarantee the lifting of the embargo imposed on Iraq.
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing , SEPTEMBER 14, 1998 -- IRAQ Secretary Albright has met with Kurdish leaders on Friday and today. Secretary Albright expects to host a meeting between both leaders later this week. Severing UNSCOM cooperation would be a flagrant violation of UNSC resolutions US watching situation closely; military action still on table.
• IRAQ / U-N SANCTIONS Voice of America 14 September 1998 -- IRAQ'S PARLIAMENT IS URGING THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO CUT ALL CONTACTS WITH UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTORS UNLESS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESUMES ITS REGULAR REVIEWS OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS DISARMAMENT PROGRAM.
• TEXT: CLINTON STATEMENT ON UNSC VOTE ON IRAQ SANCTIONS USIA 10 September 1998 -- President Clinton late September 9 in Florida applauded "the decisive and unanimous vote by the United Nations Security Council to suspend the review of sanctions against Iraq until Baghdad resumes full cooperation with the international weapons inspectors.
• ALBRIGHT/IRAQ Voice of America 09 September 1998 -- U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS REITERATED THAT MILITARY FORCE COULD STILL BE USED AGAINST IRAQ IF IT AGAIN TRIES TO BUILD MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONS OR THREATEN ITS NEIGHBORS.
• SECURITY COUNCIL/ IRAQ Voice of America 09 September 1998 -- IN NEW YORK TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF A REVISED RESOLUTION SUSPENDING THE REVIEW OF SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.
• SECURITY COUNCIL CANCELS IRAQI SANCTIONS REVIEW By Judy Aita USIA 09 September 1998 -- The Security Council September 9 voted unanimously to suspend any consideration to lift Iraqi sanctions until Baghdad resumes cooperation with UN weapons inspectors.
• UN SECURITY COUNCIL PREPARED TO SUSPEND IRAQI SANCTIONS REVIEWS USIA UNITED NATIONS REPORT 09 September 1998 -- The Security Council September 9 was drafting a resolution that will suspend Iraqi sanction reviews until Baghdad resumes cooperation with UN weapons inspectors.
• INDYK PREDICTS U.N. VOTE WILL NOT LIFT SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ By William B. Reinckens USIA 09 September 1998 -- Martin S. Indyk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near East, predicted that the United Nations vote to lift sanctions, which is expected to take place within the next two days, would not pass because of Iraq's refusal to allow UNSCOM inspectors to visit sites inside the country.
• TRANSCRIPT: CORDESMAN WARNS OF CONSEQUENCES IF IRAQ SANCTIONS LIFTED USIA 09 September 1998 -- "Iraq continues to import the parts for missiles, for chemical weapons. It is almost certainly importing the components for biological weapons. It is essentially getting ready for the day that sanctions are lifted, and it is creating new programs."
• Scott Ritter; the Iraqi Opposition Iraq News 09 September 1998 --
• U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing , SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 -- IRAQ Situation update and MKA's remarks about Scott Ritter/International involvement and inspections/Role of USG/Issue of unilateral action/Secretary 's Testimony/Rumors that Secretary tried to stop hearings/Reports of Naval seizure of wheat/Medical contacts and oil-for-food program/Visit of Iraqi Kurdish Leader and PUK Leader to US/Reasons for Visits
• Scott Ritter's Congressional Testimony Iraq News 07 September 1998 -- On Sept 4, the NYT reported that Amb. Butler had told the UNSC that three times since Aug. 5, Iraq had blocked UNSCOM monitoring. Yesterday, AP reported a front page al Thawra editorial that said Iraq would take "necessary action" if the Security Council did not lift sanctions.
• PRESS BRIEFING BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OFFICE OF IRAQ PROGRAMME 4 September 1998 Press Briefing 19980904 -- The 986 "oil-for-food" programme had been implemented to alleviate the situation of the Iraqi population during a very rigorous sanctions regime. The programme had never been meant to take care of all the needs of the Iraqi people, he added. "It was just a temporary measure."
• L. A. Detainees, Lehrer Newshour Iraq News 04 September 1998 -- Former CIA Director, James Woolsey, speaking before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sept 3, strongly criticized US policy toward Iraq. He described US policy since the Gulf war's end and the Mar, 91 post-war uprisings, as "flaccid and feckless."
• PRESS BRIEFING BY MIKE MCCURRY AND DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR JIM STEINBERG White House Briefing 04 September 1998 -- Q Jim, if there's nothing to Scott Ritter's charges of appeasement, why is the U.S. response to this round of Iraqi intransigence so different from what it was some months ago when we sent carrier battle groups and other Navy ships to the region?
• U-N/IRAQ OIL-FOR-FOOD Voice of America 04 September 1998 -- THE UNITED NATIONS IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE PACE OF ITS IRAQI OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM, UNDER WHICH IRAQ IS ALLOWED TO EXPORT LIMITED QUANTITIES OF OIL IN RETURN FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES.
• Ritter discusses UNSCOM, Iraq policy at Senate USIA CONGRESSIONAL REPORT 03 September 1998 -- Scott Ritter, the U.S. Marine who headed a key inspection unit in UNSCOM (the United Nations Special Committee) until his resignation last week, was the sole witness at a joint hearing of the Senate Armed Forces and Foreign Relations Committees September 3.
• U-N / IRAQ SANCTIONS Voice of America 03 September 1998 - THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN TODAY (THURSDAY) PROPOSED A RESOLUTION TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL THAT WOULD SUSPEND COUNCIL REVIEWS OF IRAQI SANCTIONS UNTIL IRAQ RESUMES COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
• SENATE-IRAQ Voice of America 03 September 1998 - SCOTT RITTER, A FORMER UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTOR HAS ACCUSED THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION OF INTERFERING WITH HIS WORK IN IRAQ, TO HEAD OFF A NEW SHOWDOWN WITH PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.
• TEXT: CLINTON REPORTS ON IRAQ'S NON-COMPLIANCE WITH UNSC RESOLUTIONS USIA 03 September 1998 -- "Iraq remains a serious threat to international peace and security," President Clinton reported to Congress September 3.
• US Senate Moves Decisively; Aziz threatens UNSC Iraq News, SEPTEMBER 2, 1998 - Scott Ritter will testify today, Sept 3, in a joint hearing of the Senate's Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, 2:00 PM, Hart Bldg, 216. That, even as "Iraq News" has heard a report that the Clinton administration is preparing a major smear campaign against him.
• More Criticism; Sudan and Iraq Iraq News, SEPTEMBER 2, 1998 - In the view of "Iraq News," the Clinton administration's "agitprop" approach to national security affairs is not only undemocratic, it might prove very dangerous. The administration presented a false account of its new Iraq policy and there was no debate about it. Thus, the pros and cons including the risks, were not adequately considered, or at least not considered to the extent they would have been, if there had been a proper discussion of the matter.

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