DATE=3/10/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246455
TITLE=COHEN / MIDEAST (L)
 BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN HAS WRAPPED UP A 
VISIT TO FIVE NATIONS IN THE GULF AND HAS FLOWN TO JORDAN, AS 
PART OF A WEEK-LONG TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT 
SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THAT THE 
DEFENSE SECRETARY HAS HEARD SOME PUBLIC CRITICISM OF U-S POLICY 
TOWARD IRAQ, BUT SAYS HIS IS SATISFIED WITH THE SUPPORT HE HAS 
RECEIVED.

TEXT:  DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TOLD REPORTERS IN KUWAIT 
HE IS SATISFIED THAT HE HAS THE BACKING OF ALL THE GULF STATES 
FOR U-S POLICIES IN THE REGION. HE SAID EVERYTHING HE HAS 
REQUESTED HAS BEEN AGREED TO.

MR. COHEN FLEW TO KUWAIT FROM QATAR, WHERE THE FOREIGN MINISTER 
PUBLICLY CRITICIZED THE DAILY U-S ATTACKS ON IRAQI DEFENSE 
INSTALLATIONS. THE QATARI OFFICIAL WARNED CONTINUED AGGRESSION 
COULD HAVE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS IN THE AREA.

ANOTHER GOVERNMENT IN THE REGION, THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, HAS 
ALSO VOICED CONCERN OVER THE U-S POLICY. U-S PLANES IN RECENT 
MONTHS HAVE BEEN RESPONDING AGGRESSIVELY TO ATTACKS BY IRAQI 
ARTILLERY AGAINST PATROLS IN NO-FLY ZONES OVER NORTHERN AND 
SOUTHERN IRAQ. IRAQ CONSIDERS THE ZONES ILLEGAL AND HAS OFFERED A
REWARD TO ANYONE WHO SHOOTS DOWN A FOREIGN PLANE.

THE U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY HAS BEEN TELLING GULF LEADERS THAT THE 
ATTACKS ON IRAQI DEFENSES WILL ONLY STOP WHEN IRAQI DEFENSES STOP
TRYING TO KILL U-S PILOTS.

MR. COHEN THANKED THE GOVERNMENT OF KUWAIT FOR THE STRONG SUPPORT
IT PROVIDES U-S TROOPS. U-S AND BRITISH AIR PATROLS OVER SOUTHERN
IRAQ ARE BASED IN KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA.

THE OFFICIAL SAID THE U-S AND KUWAITI GOVERNMENTS PLAN TO 
INCREASE MILITARY COOPERATION BY SHARING U-S SATELLITE 
INFORMATION ON MISSILE TESTS IN THE REGION. THEY ALSO PLAN TO 
INSTALL A HOT LINE (DIRECT TELEPHONE LINK) BETWEEN THEIR TWO 
DEFENSE MINISTRIES. AND THEY ARE TO STUDY WAYS TO COUNTER 
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ATTACKS.

///REST OPT.///

THE DEFENSE SECRETARY HAS MADE SIMILAR PROPOSALS IN OTHER 
COUNTRIES HE VISITED. HE HAS ALSO AUTHORIZED THE SALE OF ADVANCED
AIR-TO-AIR MISSILES TO SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES 
TO BOLSTER THEIR DEFENSES AGAINST POSSIBLE AIR ATTACKS.

MR. COHEN IS ALSO TO VISIT EGYPT AND ISRAEL BEFORE RETURNING HOME
AT THE END OF THIS WEEK. (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/PCF



10-Mar-99 9:49 AM EST (1449 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.