DATE=3/9/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246408
TITLE=COHEN / MIDEAST (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TUESDAY HEARD A GULF 
LEADER PUBLICLY CALL FOR AN END TO U-S AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ. 
V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS IT WAS THE 
FIRST PUBLIC CRITICISM THE U-S OFFICIAL HAS HEARD SINCE HE BEGAN 
HIS TOUR OF THE REGION LAST WEEK.

TEXT:  QATAR'S FOREIGN MINISTER SHEIKH HAMAD BIN JASSIM AL-THANI 
TOLD A JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE TUESDAY IN DOHA THAT QATAR DOES  
NOT  WISH TO SEE DAILY BOMBINGS OF IRAQ, SAYING CONTINUED ATTACKS
COULD HAVE REPERCUSSIONS THROUGHOUT THE GULF REGION.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE FOREIGN MINISTER SAID HE UNDERSTANDS THE 
U-S POSITION AND SAID IRAQ SHOULD ABIDE BY U-N RESOLUTIONS.  HE 
SAID THE MAIN ISSUE IS HOW TO BRING PEACE AND STABILITY TO THE 
REGION.

THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY RESPONDED TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S 
COMMENTS SAYING THAT THERE WOULD BE  NO  ATTACKS ON IRAQI AIR 
DEFENSES IF IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN WOULD STOP VIOLATING 
THE NO-FLY ZONES AND STOP TRYING TO KILL U-S PILOTS.

SINCE MR. COHEN BEGAN HIS TOUR, IT WAS THE FIRST PUBLIC CRITICISM
BY A HOST GOVERNMENT OF THE U-S POLICY OF AGGRESSIVELY RESPONDING
TO IRAQI CHALLENGES TO U-S AIR PATROLS IN THE NO-FLY ZONES.  MR. 
COHEN IS VISITING NINE NATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST TRYING TO 
BOLSTER SUPPORT FOR THE POLICY.

IRAQ CONSIDERS THE NO-FLY ZONES ILLEGAL.  THE ZONES WERE SET UP 
AFTER THE GULF WAR TO PROTECT DISSIDENT POPULATIONS IN NORTHERN 
AND SOUTHERN IRAQ FROM IRAQI AIR ATTACKS.  THERE HAVE BEEN MORE 
THAN 100 CLASHES IN THE ZONES IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS.  SEVERAL 
CLASHES HAVE OCCURRED DURING MR. COHEN'S TRIP.

MR. COHEN TRAVELED TO QATAR AFTER VISITING THE UNITED ARAB 
EMIRATES, OMAN, SAUDI ARABIA, AND BAHRAIN EARLIER THIS WEEK.  IN 
ABU DHABI, HE PROPOSED SHARING (WITH GULF NATIONS) INFORMATION 
FROM U-S SATELLITES ON BALLISTIC MISSILE TESTS IN THE REGION.

HE ALSO ANNOUNCED AGREEMENTS TO SELL ADVANCED AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES
TO SEVERAL GULF COUNTRIES TO BOLSTER THEIR DEFENSES AGAINST 
POSSIBLE AIR ATTACKS.  IRAQ AND IRAN ARE SAID TO BE DEVELOPING 
MEDIUM-RANGE MISSILES THAT COULD REACH A NUMBER OF NATIONS IN THE
REGION.

THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY ALSO PROPOSED SETTING UP JOINT 
COMMITTEES TO STUDY CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WARFARE, WHICH ARE 
VIEWED AS INCREASINGLY POSSIBLE THREATS IN THE REGION.   (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH

09-Mar-99 9:50 AM EST (1450 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.