DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241590
TITLE=CLINTON/IRAQ (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON IS TELEPHONING WORLD LEADERS AS HE 
CONTINUES HIS EFFORT TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE USE OF FORCE -- IF 
NECESSARY -- TO GET IRAQ TO RESUME U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.      
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT: MR. CLINTON HAS MADE NO NEW PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CRISIS 
BUT REMAINS HEAVILY INVOLVED BEHIND THE SCENES. HE TELEPHONED THE
LEADERS OF SEVERAL WEST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES THURSDAY -- INCLUDING 
GERMAN PRIME MINISTER GERHARD SCHROEDER -- AND CONTINUED TO 
REFINE U-S OPTIONS FOR DEALING WITH THE CRISIS WITH HIS NATIONAL 
SECURITY TEAM.

WHILE ONLY THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE COMMITTED FORCES TO
A POSSIBLE MILITARY MOVE AGAINST IRAQ, THE ADMINISTRATION INSISTS
SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS NO INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR HIS DEFIANCE OF 
THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS REGIME.

IN THAT REGARD, CLINTON SPOKESMAN JOE LOCKHART WELCOMED A JOINT 
STATEMENT BY THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL MEMBER STATES ALONG 
WITH EGYPT AND SYRIA THAT THE IRAQI LEADER WOULD BEAR THE 
RESPONSIBILITY IF THE SITUATION DETERIORATES:

                    ///LOCKHART ACTUALITY///

         JUST TODAY, THE CLOSEST NEIGHBORS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN MADE
         A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT HE IS IN VIOLATION, AND HE MUST 
         CHANGE HIS COURSE, AND THAT HE ALONE -- SADDAM HUSSEIN, 
         ALONE -- IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSEQUENCES OF 
         NON-COMPLIANCE.

                         /// END ACT///

THE STATEMENT BY THE ARAB STATES, ISSUED IN QATAR, SAID THE 
CRISIS SHOULD BE RESOLVED DIPLOMATICALLY. SPOKESMAN LOCKHART SAID
THE UNITED STATES, TOO, FAVORS A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION BUT THERE IS
NO NEED FOR ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION WITH IRAQ ON WHAT IT MUST DO 
TO ACHIEVE ONE:

                      ///LOCKHART ACT 2///

         AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING TO 
         NEGOTIATE HERE. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS SENT A 
         STRONG, CLEAR MESSAGE TO SADDAM HUSSEIN. THE QUESTION 
         IS, WILL HE HEAR IT?

                          ///END ACT///

MR. LOCKHART SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT SET A DEADLINE FOR 
IRAQ TO RETURN TO COMPLIANCE, BUT SAID THE CURRENT SITUATION 
CANNOT GO ON INDEFINITELY, WITH IRAQ CAPABLE OF RECONSTITUTING 
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION IN A MATTER OF MONTHS. (SIGNED)

NEB/DAG/GE

12-Nov-98 3:02 PM EST (2002 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.