DATE=1/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244605
TITLE=ARAB LEAGUE/IRAQ ISOLATION (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL 
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: IN EGYPT, IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER WALKED OUT OF A MEETING 
OF FOREIGN MINISTERS AT THE ARAB LEAGUE (SUNDAY).  AS RICHARD 
ENGEL REPORTS FROM CAIRO THE MOVE MAY LIKELY FURTHER ISOLATE IRAQ
AMONG ARAB NATIONS AT A TIME IT NEEDS THEM THE MOST.

TEXT: IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAEED AL SAHAF STORMED OUT OF A 
MEETING OF ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS, CALLING THEM TRAITORS AND U-S 
LACKEYS.  MR. SAHAF THEN WENT TO A NEARBY HOTEL AND CONTINUED HIS
CRITICISM OF THE ARAB LEAGUE MEETING AND THE ARAB NATIONS 
ATTENDING.

                      /// AL SAHAF ACT/// 

         WE BECAME VERY CERTAIN THAT THIS MINORITY, SAUDI ARABIA 
         AND THE OTHERS, THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING WHAT HAS BEEN 
         DICTATED TO THEM BY THE AMERICANS. 

                          ///END ACT///

ACCORDING TO MR. AL-SAHAF, HE LEFT THE ARAB LEAGUE MEETING 
BECAUSE THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S REFUSED TO CONDEMN LAST MONTH'S 
U-S AND BRITISH MILITARY STRIKES ON BAGHDAD.

MR. AL-SAHAF WENT ON TO ACCUSE EGYPT AND SYRIA OF CAVING INTO THE
GULF ARAB COUNTRIES WHOM HE DESCRIBED AS HOSTILE TOWARDS IRAQ.

MR. AL-SAHAF'S ACTIONS AND STATEMENTS ARE LIKELY TO DEEPLY INSULT
ARAB FOREIGN MINISTERS AND THE GOVERNMENTS THEY REPRESENT. 
FURTHERMORE, THE MINISTERS WERE PROBABLY OFFENDED BY THE WALKOUT 
BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY CAME TO CAIRO TO HELP IRAQ FIND A SOLUTION
TO ITS STANDOFF WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.

THE WALKOUT IS ALSO LIKELY TO WORSEN ALREADY POOR RELATIONS 
BETWEEN IRAQ AND MUCH OF THE ARAB WORLD. IN RECENT WEEKS, THE 
MEDIA IN EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA AND KUWAIT HAVE BEEN LAUNCHING  
ALMOST DAILY ATTACKS AGAINST THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP, CALLING SADDAM
HUSSEIN A BUTCHER AND DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ A LIAR.

SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS CALLED FOR THE OVERTHROW OF ARAB GOVERNMENTS 
THAT DO NOT SUPPORT HIM.  IRAQI NEWSPAPERS DESCRIBE THE LEADERS 
OF EGYPT, SAUDI ARABIA AND OTHER U-S ALLIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS
COWARDS.

ANALYSTS PREDICT THAT BY ISOLATING THE ARAB STATES, IRAQ COULD BE
INVITING MORE MILITARY STRIKES. AND THEY SAY, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT
ARAB NATIONS WILL TRY TO DEFEND IRAQ AFTER IT HAS REJECTED THEIR 
OFFER FOR HELP. (SIGNED) 

NEB/RHE/SB/WFR

24-Jan-99 5:51 PM EST (2251 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.