DATE=11/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241591
TITLE=IRAQ / AZIZ (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IRAQ HAS SAID AGAIN IT WILL  NOT  BACK DOWN IN THE FACE 
U-S THREATENED MILITARY ATTACKS TO FORCE COOPERATION WITH U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  RICHARD ENGEL IN CAIRO REPORTS IRAQ ACCUSED 
THE UNITED STATES OF BEING THE CHIEF AGGRESSOR IN THE DISPUTE. 

TEXT:  IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, TARIQ AZIZ, DENOUNCED THE 
UNITES STATES ON THURSDAY, SAYING WASHINGTON HAS WAGED A WAR OF 
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ FOR SEVEN YEARS.

MR. AZIZ SAID HE SEES  NO  END TO THE SANCTIONS, AND HE BLAMED 
U-N CHIEF ARMS INSPECTOR, RICHARD BUTLER, FOR THE CURRENT 
SHOWDOWN.

                       ///  AZIZ ACT  ///

         IT WAS NOT IRAQ WHO VIOLATED THE MEMORANDUM OF 
         UNDERSTANDING.  IT WAS BUTLER AND HIS GANG IN UNSCOM  
         (U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS)  WHO DID THAT, AND DID THAT 
         UPON INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, 
         BECAUSE THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR SERVES THE GENERAL POLICY 
         OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. 

                        ///  END ACT  ///

MR. AZIZ SAID THE IRAQI PEOPLE ARE  NOT  AFRAID OF MILITARY 
STRIKES. HE SAYS IRAQ IS ALREADY SUFFERING DEARLY UNDER THE 
CURRENT SANCTIONS. 

MR. AZIZ'S REMARKS COME AS THE UNITED STATES CONTINUED TO BUILD 
UP ITS FORCES IN THE GULF REGION IN PREPARATION FOR A POSSIBLE 
MILITARY STRIKE.

ARAB LEADERS HAVE SAID THEY WOULD OPPOSE A MILITARY STRIKE AND 
WANT A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.  THE GOVERNMENTS OF EGYPT, QATAR, 
KUWAIT AND BAHRAIN ALL URGED IRAQ TO ALLOW THE U-N INSPECTORS TO 
RESUME THEIR WORK.  THE ARAB LEAGUE HAS URGED MORE FLEXIBILITY ON
BOTH SIDES.

EGYPT'S PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK CAUTIONED BOTH THE GOVERNMENTS IN
IRAQ AND THE UNITED STATES THAT AN ATTACK ON IRAQ COULD HAVE 
DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON STABILITY OF THE REGION AND THE IRAQI 
PEOPLE.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/RHE/JWH/JO

12-Nov-98 2:54 PM EST (1954 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.