DATE=2/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245581
TITLE=IRAQ THREAT / REACT (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE NEWS MEDIA IN IRAQ ARE TRADING THREATS WITH 
NEWSPAPERS IN GULF NATIONS AFTER WARNING NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES 
AGAINST ALLOWING WESTERN FORCES TO USE BASES IN THEIR TERRITORIES
TO PATROL IRAQI AIR SPACE.  MIDDLE-EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB 
REPORTS THE WAR OF WORDS FOLLOWS A PROMISE BY SECRETARY-OF-STATE 
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT OF SWIFT RETALIATION FOR ANY IRAQI ATTACKS 
AGAINST NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES. 

TEXT:  IRAQI NEWSPAPERS SAY TIME HAS RUN OUT FOR WHAT THEY CALL 
THE U-S AND BRITISH AGGRESSORS AND THOSE WHO SUPPORT THEM.

BAGHDAD'S AL-JUMHOURIA NEWSPAPER (TUESDAY) SAID THE CONTINUOUS 
AGGRESSION WILL BE STRONGLY CONFRONTED.  AND THE AL-QADISSIYA 
DAILY SAID THE PRICE FOR SUCH AGGRESSION WILL BE VERY HIGH.

THE REPORTS FOLLOW STATEMENTS BY IRAQI OFFICIALS THAT THEY COULD 
ATTACK TURKEY, KUWAIT, AND SAUDI ARABIA IF THESE COUNTRIES 
CONTINUE TO ALLOW WESTERN AIR PATROLS OVER IRAQ FROM THEIR 
TERRITORIES.  IRAQ CONSIDERS THE PATROLS, OVER NO-FLY ZONES IN 
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN IRAQ, TO BE ILLEGAL AND A VIOLATION OF ITS 
SOVEREIGNTY.

KUWAITI NEWSPAPERS TUESDAY DISMISSED THE STATEMENTS AS EMPTY 
THREATS.  THE AL-ANBA NEWSPAPER SAID IRAQ DOES  NOT  FRIGHTEN 
KUWAIT.  THE NEWSPAPER SAID THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY MUST MAKE
IRAQ BEAR RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT IT CALLED THE CONSEQUENCES OF 
ITS THREATS. THE KUWAITI GOVERNMENT SAYS THE REMARKS REFLECT THE 
IRAQI GOVERNMENT'S AGGRESSIVE INTENTIONS TOWARD ITS NEIGHBORS.

NEWSPAPERS IN SAUDI ARABIA HEAPED SCORN ON THE REMARKS.  THE 
AL-RIYADH DAILY ASKED HOW THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT COULD STRIKE SAUDI
ARABIA WHEN IT IS  NOT  ABLE TO HIT FOREIGN PLANES OVER ITS OWN 
TERRITORY.  THE AL-NADWA NEWSPAPER SAID THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL WITH
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IS, IN ITS WORDS, TO CUT THE HEAD OFF THE 
SNAKE.  IT SAID THE THREATS WERE AIMED AT PREVENTING EFFORTS TO 
END THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

                       ///  REST OPT  ///

THE REMARKS COME AS IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ 
VISITS ANKARA TRYING TO PERSUADE THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT TO END 
U-S AND BRITISH AIR PATROLS FROM A BASE IN SOUTHERN TURKEY.  MR. 
AZIZ DEFENDED THE IRAQI POSITION  (TUESDAY),  TELLING REPORTERS 
IN ANKARA IT IS  NOT  ACCEPTABLE FOR A TURKISH AIRBASE TO BE USED
BY AMERICAN AND BRITISH FORCES TO HURT IRAQIS. 

                       ///  AZIZ ACT  ///

         THE SECURITY OF TURKEY AFFECTS THE SECURITY OF IRAQ.  
         AND THE WELFARE OF IRAQ AFFECTS THE WELFARE OF TURKEY.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT MONDAY REPORTEDLY URGED THE GOVERNMENT IN 
BAGHDAD TO ABIDE BY U-N RESOLUTIONS IF IT WISHES TO END THE AIR 
PATROLS. 

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE ARAB LEAGUE, ESMAT ABDEL-MEGUID, 
TOLD REPORTERS DURING A VISIT TO KUWAIT THAT SUCH PROBLEMS WILL  
NOT  BE SOLVED BY THREATS, BUT THROUGH DIALOGUE AND NEGOTIATION. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH

16-Feb-99 9:49 AM EST (1449 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.