DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241560
TITLE=IRAQ / ARAB REACT (L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS ARE URGING IRAQ TO COOPERATE WITH 
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO WARD OFF POSSIBLE U-S MILITARY STRIKES.
BUT AS RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM CAIRO, ARAB NATIONS ALSO 
BELIEVE IRAQ HAS LEGITIMATE CONCERNS ABOUT THE U-N INSPECTIONS 
AND WANT A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT STANDOFF.

TEXT:  THE IRAQI CRISIS IS TOPPING THE AGENDA OF A MEETING IN 
QATAR OF FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM EIGHT ARAB NATIONS. 

QATAR'S FOREIGN MINISTER, WHO SPOKE AT THE OPENING OF THE 
TWICE-ANNUAL MEETING OF THE "DAMASCUS-EIGHT" GROUP, CALLED ON 
IRAQ TO COOPERATE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS TO, IN HIS WORDS, WARD 
OFF FURTHER CATASTROPHES.  THE QATAR OFFICIAL SAID THE CRISIS 
OVER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS SHOULD BE SOLVED DIPLOMATICALLY.

THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF KUWAIT AND BAHRAIN MADE SIMILAR 
COMMENTS.

THE 22-MEMBER ARAB LEAGUE STRESSED THAT IRAQ SHOULD SHOW GREATER 
FLEXIBILITY AND ALLOW U-N INSPECTIONS TO CONTINUE.  HOWEVER, THE 
ARAB LEAGUE SAID THE U-N INSPECTORS HAVE COMMITTED VIOLATIONS, 
POINTING TO REPORTS THAT THE U-N TEAM SHARED INFORMATION WITH 
ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE.

ARAB LEAGUE SPOKESMAN TALAT HAMID TOLD V-O-A THE ORGANIZATION IS 
OPPOSED TO MILITARY STRIKES.

            ///  HAMID ACT - ARABIC - FADE UNDER  ///

MR. HAMID SAID THE ARAB LEAGUE URGES MORE FLEXIBILITY BY BOTH 
SIDES IN THE DISPUTE AND IS TOTALLY OPPOSED TO ANY MILITARY 
ACTION TO FORCE IRAQ INTO COMPLIANCE.

EGYPT'S FOREIGN MINISTER HAS SAID THAT IRAQ HAS A RIGHT TO SEE A 
DAY WHEN THE SEVEN-YEAR OLD SANCTIONS WILL BE ENDED.  AND EGYPT'S
PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK IN REMARKS PUBLISHED THURSDAY WARNED OF 
THE DANGERS, A MILITARY ATTACK AGAINST IRAQ POSED, FOR BOTH THE 
STABILITY OF THE REGION AND THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

WHILE ARAB LEADERS ARE CALLING FOR DIPLOMACY, THEY APPARENTLY ARE
PREPARING FOR MILITARY ACTION.  QATAR'S FOREIGN MINISTER TOLD AL 
RAI AL AAM NEWSPAPER THAT, IN HIS WORDS, THE INCLINATION TOWARDS 
A MILITARY STRIKE IS STRONGER NOW THAN BEFORE.  HE ADDED THAT HE 
EXPECTS A MILITARY STRIKE BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH BECAUSE, IN
HIS WORDS, THE DOORS FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION ARE CLOSED OR 
ALMOST CLOSED.

KUWAIT'S DEFENSE MINISTER CUT SHORT A TRIP TO THE UNITED STATES 
TO RETURN TO HIS COUNTRY WHERE U-S TROOPS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED IN 
PREPARATION FOR A POSSIBLE ATTACK.

IRAQ, HOWEVER, HAS SHOWED  NO  PUBLIC SIGNS OF BACKING DOWN. THE 
IRAQI NEWSPAPER AL THOURA SAID THURSDAY THE ON-GOING WITHDRAWAL 
OF U-N PERSONNEL FROM IRAQ, BELIEVED TO BE A PRECAUTIONARY 
MEASURE IN CASE OF A MILITARY ATTACK, IS PART OF A GAME 
ORCHESTRATED BY THE UNITED STATES.  THE NEWSPAPER URGED THE U-N 
SECURITY COUNCIL TO PREVENT A MILITARY ATTACK.  AND THE PAPER 
SAID, IN ITS WORDS, THE BALL IS NOW IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL'S 
COURT.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/RHE/JWH/PLM

12-Nov-98 6:54 AM EST (1154 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.