DATE=11/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241706
TITLE=IRAQ/U-N / GULF REACT (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=KUWAIT CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  NEWSPAPERS IN IRAQ ARE CLAIMING VICTORY IN THE 
GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO RESUME FULL COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS, THEREBY AVOIDING AIR STRIKES BY U-S LED FORCES.  
REACTION IN THE VOLATILE GULF REGION HAS BEEN PRIMARILY ONE OF 
RELIEF, AS WE HEAR IN THIS REPORT BY CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB IN 
KUWAIT CITY. 

TEXT:  ARAB LEADERS (SUNDAY) WELCOMED IRAQ'S DECISION TO ALLOW 
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS TO RESUME.  ALTHOUGH SOME NOTED THE 
CRISIS MAY NOT BE OVER, MOST FELT THAT A STEP HAD BEEN TAKEN BACK
FROM THE BRINK OF DISASTER.  

THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, RASHED ABDULLAH
AL-NUAIMI, TOLD REPORTERS IRAQ'S DECISION WAS GOOD NEWS FOR ALL 
GULF STATES.  THE MINISTER, WHO WAS CHAIRING A MEETING OF THE 
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL IN ABU DHABI, SAID THE DECISION SHOWED 
REASON AND A CONCERN FOR THE INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE.  

THE FOREIGN MINISTRY OF QATAR ISSUED A STATEMENT WELCOMING THE 
IRAQI DECISION, AND SAYING IT HOPED IT WOULD LEAD TO A RESOLUTION
OF THE CRISIS AND THE LIFTING OF ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.

SAUDI ARABIA REITERATED THE POLICY OF MOST ARAB GOVERNMENTS, 
SAYING IT SUPPORTS A PEACEFUL, DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS.
A STATEMENT BY THE DEFENSE MINISTER SAID THE KINGDOM WOULD NOT 
ALLOW ITS TERRITORY TO BE USED TO LAUNCH AIR STRIKES AGAINST 
IRAQ.  

MOST GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION HAVE BLAMED THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP 
FOR SPARKING THE LATEST CRISIS, WITH ITS DECISION TO SUSPEND 
COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TWO WEEKS AGO.  HOWEVER, 
MOST SYMPATHIZE WITH THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE UNDER THE 
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED SINCE THE GULF WAR ENDED EIGHT-YEARS 
AGO.  MOST BELIEVE THESE SHOULD BE LIFTED ON HUMANITARIAN 
REASONS.  

                         // REST OPT // 

EDITORIAL REACTION IN THE REGION ECHOED OFFICIAL SENTIMENTS.  
QATAR'S DAILY NEWSPAPER, ASHARO, SAID IRAQ'S DECISION WILL 
PRESERVE STABILITY AND SECURITY IN THE REGION AND ELIMINATE THE 
PRETEXT FOR WHAT IT CALLED THE FOREIGN MILITARY PRESENCE.  

THE EMIRATES DAILY NEWSPAPER "AL-BAYAN" SAID IRAQ'S DECISION 
PLACED A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO 
INTERVENE BEFORE WHAT IT CALLED THE STORM ERUPTS AGAINST IRAQ.  

IN KUWAIT, WHICH WAS OCCUPIED BY IRAQ FOR SEVEN MONTHS, THE 
RESPONSE WAS A BIT SHARPER.  THE KUWAIT TIMES, NOTING THIS WAS 
NOT THE FIRST TIME IRAQ HAS DEFIED THE UNITED NATIONS, CALLED 
IRAQ'S DECISION A SOLUTION WITH NO SUBSTANTIVE VALUE.  THE 
PUBLICATION CONCLUDED WITH A CALL FOR A NEW DYNAMIC IN DEALING 
WITH WHAT IT CALLED IRAQI INTRANSIGENCE.  

THE DAILY "AL-WATAN" WAS MORE BLUNT.  IT PUBLISHED A CARTOON 
SHOWING A BOOT KICKING THE IRAQI PRESIDENT OUT OF THE PICTURE.   
(SIGNED)  

NEB/SB/DW/RAE 

15-Nov-98 10:50 AM EST (1550 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.