DATE=11/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241683
TITLE=U-S RESPONSEW TO IRAQ
BYLINE=ED WARNER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRODUCTION:  U-S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER SAYS AN
IRAQI LETTER OFFERING RESUMPTION OF U-N INSPECTIONS IS 
UNACCEPTABLE.  IN A BRIEFING ON THE STAND-OFF WITH BAGHDAD, MR. 
BERGER SAID TOO MANY CONDITIONS ARE INVOLVED. BUT THE IRAQIS SAY 
THEY ASK FOR NO CONDITIONS TO ALLOW U-N INSPECTORS TO RETURN. 
VOA'S ED WARNER REPORTS.

TEXT:   MR. BERGER TOLD REPORTERS AT THE WHITE HOUSE THAT "WE 
HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE, SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS A LONG HISTORY OF 
AVOIDING HIS OBLIGATIONS, AND THE CURRENT CRISIS IS YET ANOTHER 
EXAMPLE". HE SAID U-S FORCES REMAIN POISED FOR ATTACK.

MR. BERGER ALSO NOTED THE UNITED STATES HAS WAITED THREE AND A 
HALF MONTHS SINCE SADDAM STOPPED U-N INSPECTIONS OF ITS WEAPONS 
OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THEN THE LETTER ARRIVED:

                        // BERGER ACT //

         THE IRAQI LETTER SENT TODAY TO SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI 
         ANNAN IS NEITHER UNEQUIVOCAL NOR UNCONDITIONAL. IT IS 
         UNACCEPTABLE. IRAQ ACCEPTS IN THIS LETTER A 
         COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW, WHICH WAS PROPOSED BY THE SECURITY
         COUNCIL, BUT ON ITS OWN UNNACCEPTABLE TERMS, TERMS WHICH
         THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS ALREADY REJECTED. 

                          // END ACT //

MR. BERGER SAID INSTEAD OF COMPLYING WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE
SECURITY COUNCIL, SADDAM IS SAYING THE COUNCIL MUST COMPLY WITH 
HIS REQUIREMENTS. THIS WOULD ONLY SET THE STAGE FOR A NEW CRISIS 
IN THE NEAR FUTURE:

                        // BERGER ACT //

         THIS IS THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN. WE WILL BE 
         CONSULTING WITH OUR FRIENDS AND ALLIES ABOUT NEXT STEPS.

                          // END ACT //

NEXT STEPS START WITH A MEETING OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. SOME
COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE EXPRESSED MORE OPTIMISM ABOUT THE BAGHDAD 
RESPONSE. THE IRAQI LETTER OFFERS AN UNCONDITIONAL RESUMPTION OF 
U-N INSPECTIONS BUT IS ACCOMPANIED BY ANOTHER DOCUMENT LISTING 
CHANGES IRAQ WANTS IN THE WAY IT IS BEING TREATED. 

NIZAR HAMDOON, IRAQ'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, SAYS 
THESE PROPOSALS ARE NOT CONDITIONS FOR RESUMING INSPECTIONS.  
(SIGNED)

14-Nov-98 6:53 PM EST (2353 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.