DATE=11/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241648
TITLE=CLINTON / IRAQ (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DEBORAH TATE
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:   PRESIDENT CLINTON -- SEEKING TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON 
BAGHDAD TO BACK DOWN FROM ITS DEFIANCE OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS
-- SAYS IT IS UP TO IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN TO END THE 
CRISIS.  V-O-A'S DEBORAH TATE REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.

TEXT:  AS MORE WARPLANES, SHIPS AND GROUND TROOPS MAKE THEIR WAY 
TO JOIN AN ALREADY-SUBSTANTIAL U-S FORCE IN THE GULF IN 
PREPARATION FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTION AGAINST BAGHDAD, MR. 
CLINTON ISSUED ONE MORE APPEAL TO THE IRAQI LEADER.

                     // CLINTON ACTUALITY //

         SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS IT WITHIN HIS HANDS TO END THE CRISIS
         NOW BY RESUMING FULL COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM (U-N 
         WEAPONS INSPECTORS).

                          // END ACT //

MEANWHILE, MR. CLINTON'S SPOKESMAN, JOE LOCKHART, IS DISMISSING 
COMMENTS MADE BY THE IRAQI LEADER EARLIER IN THE DAY.

SADDAM HUSSEIN TOLD A RUSSIAN ENVOY IN BAGHDAD HE WOULD REACT 
POSITIVELY TO ANY INITIATIVE THAT WOULD GUARANTEE HIS COUNTRY'S 
'LEGITIMATE' DEMANDS -- AN APPARENT REFERENCE TO IRAQ'S APPEAL TO
END U-N SANCTIONS AGAINST IT.

WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN LOCKHART CALLS THE IRAQI LEADER'S STATEMENT
NEITHER POSITIVE NOR PRODUCTIVE.

                    // LOCKHART ACTUALITY //

         THERE IS NOTHING NEW IN WHAT HE IS SAYING.  HE IS 
         TALKING ABOUT AN INITIATIVE BASED ON HIS TERMS AND BASED
         ON HIS CONDITIONS.  THE MESSAGE HE NEEDS TO GET IS THAT 
         THIS HAS TO BE DONE BASED ON THE CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF
         THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.  THE  INTERNATIONAL 
         COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING UNFETTERED ACCESS FOR UNSCOM (U-N
         WEAPONS INSPECTORS) SO THEY CAN DO THEIR WORK.

                          // END ACT //

EARLIER, MR. CLINTON TELEPHONED U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN 
AS WELL AS THE CROWN PRINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA AND THE EMIR OF 
KUWAIT TO DISCUSS THE CRISIS.

AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT 
ISSUED A WARNING TO BAGHDAD TO REVERSE COURSE OR FACE THE 
POSSIBILITY OF U-S MILITARY STRIKES.  SHE SAID ANY USE OF FORCE 
WOULD BE USED TO DEGRADE SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CAPACITY TO DEVELOP AND
DELIVER WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AND DEGRADE HIS ABILITY TO 
THREATEN HIS NEIGHBORS.

WHILE FOCUSING ON THE CURRENT CRISIS, MS. ALBRIGHT ALSO SAID THE 
UNITED STATES IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE END OF THE SADDAM HUSSEIN
ERA. 

                    // ALBRIGHT ACTUALITY //

         WE WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO A POST-SADDAM REGIME, AND WE 
         HAVE BEEN, AND WILL WORK MORE ACTIVELY WITH OPPOSITION 
         GROUPS;  CONGRESS HAS PASSED, AND THE PRESIDENT HAS 
         SIGNED, A LAW THAT ALLOWS MORE INTENSIVE ACTIVITY, AND 
         WE WILL PURSUE THAT.

                          // END ACT //

MS. ALBRIGHT SPOKE BEFORE LEAVING FOR MALAYSIA FOR AN ASIAN 
ECONOMIC SUMMIT.

THE PRESIDENT IS TO FOLLOW HER ON SATURDAY.  BESIDES HIS STOP IN 
MALAYSIA, MR. CLINTON IS ALSO TO VISIT JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND THE
U-S TERRITORY OF GUAM DURING HIS SCHEDULED 10-DAY TRIP.

WHEN ASKED IF THE PRESIDENT COULD ORDER AN ATTACK ON IRAQ FROM 
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN LOCKHART SAID HE
HAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT HE CANNOT.  (SIGNED)

NEB/DAT/RRM

13-Nov-98 4:10 PM EST (2110 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.