DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243200
TITLE=IRAQ / DIPLOMACY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS CRITICS OF U-S POLICY 
TOWARD IRAQ HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE AND 
THEY SAY THEY ARE PLEASED WITH THE LEVEL OF INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
FOR U-S ACTIONS.  FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-O-A'S KYLE KING 
REPORTS. 

TEXT: SINCE THE U-S LED BOMBING RAIDS BEGAN, PRESIDENT CLINTON 
AND SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAVE BEEN TELEPHONING 
WORLD LEADERS, TRYING TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR U-S POLICY. 

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE HAS HAD TELEPHONE 
CONVERSATIONS WITH MORE THAN 20 FOREIGN LEADERS.  SHE SAYS THE 
RESPONSE FROM MOST HAS BEEN GRATIFYING. 

                     /// ALBRIGHT ACT 1 /// 

         THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW CRITICAL PUBLIC COMMENTS, BUT THE 
         REACTION SO FAR SERVES TO UNDERSCORE HOW ISOLATED SADDAM
         (HUSSEIN) IS IN THE ARAB WORLD. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON PHONED THE LEADERS OF
ISRAEL, EGYPT, JORDAN AND FRANCE DURING THE DAY, FOR TALKS THAT 
ARE DESCRIBED AS CONSTRUCTIVE. 

MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS A NUMBER OF U-S ALLIES, INCLUDING CANADA, THE 
E-U, JAPAN, KOREA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND OTHERS, HAVE 
OFFERED STRONG EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT FOR U-S POLICY. 

SHE SAYS MOST COUNTRIES AGREE THAT IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN
IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TRIGGERING THE CURRENT CRISIS BECAUSE OF HIS 
REFUSAL TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. 

MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS EVEN FRANCE, WHICH HAS EXPRESSED REGRET THAT A 
PEACEFUL SOLUTION COULD NOT BE FOUND, AGREES THAT IRAQ TRIGGERED 
THE CURRENT CRISIS. 

MS. ALBRIGHT SAYS THE TWO HARSHEST CRITICS OF U-S MILITARY 
ACTION, RUSSIA AND CHINA, HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PERSUADE SADDAM 
HUSSEIN TO COMPLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION. 

                     /// ALBRIGHT ACT 2 /// 

         THE RUSSIANS AND THE CHINESE ARE CRITICAL BUT OVER THE 
         PAST YEAR THEY HAVE FAILED TO PROVIDE ANY VIABLE 
         ALTERNATIVE. 

                        /// END ACT /// 

MS. ALBRIGHT, WHO HAS SPOKEN SEVERAL TIMES ON THE PHONE WITH 
RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV, SAYS SHE IS NOT SURPRISED 
BY THE REACTION FROM RUSSIA.  HOWEVER, SHE SAYS SHE IS 
DISAPPOINTED BY THEIR CRITICISM OF CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR, 
RICHARD BUTLER, WHOSE REPORT ON IRAQI NON-COMPLIANCE HELPED 
TRIGGER THE U-S AIR STRIKES.  

                     /// ALBRIGHT ACT 3 /// 

         WHILE I REGRET THEIR ATTACK ON CHAIRMAN BUTLER, ITS LIKE
         AS I'VE SAID, THEY ARE TRYING TO SHOOT THE MESSENGER 
         HERE.  THE FAULT, AND THE PROBLEM HERE IS SADDAM 
         HUSSEIN. THERE IS NO OTHER PROBLEM HERE BEYOND SADDAM 
         HUSSEIN'S NON-COMPLIANCE.  

                        /// END ACT /// 

THE SECRETARY (OF STATE) SAYS THE UNITED STATES REMAINS COMMITTED
TO GETTING SADDAM HUSSEIN TO COMPLY WITH U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 
RESOLUTIONS. 

STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE UNITED STATES WILL CONTINUE TO
TRY TO CONTAIN SADDAM HUSSEIN BUT THEY ARE UNSURE IF U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS WILL EVER BE ALLOWED BACK IN. 

IN THE SHORT TERM, THEY SAY THE BOMBING CAMPAIGN WILL DEGRADE 
IRAQ'S ABILITY TO MAKE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  OVER THE 
LONG TERM, THEY SAY THE GOAL IS TO GET RID OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, A 
PROSPECT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE WILL PROBABLY NOT HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON. 
(SIGNED) 

NEB/KBK/WDC

17-Dec-98 5:25 PM EST (2225 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.