DATE=5/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249733
TITLE=IRAQI OPPOSITION
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES IS ANNOUNCING PLANS TO PROVIDE 
ASSISTANCE TO IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS, TO HELP THEM BUILD POPULAR
SUPPORT INSIDE IRAQ.  FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, V-OA'S KYLE KING
REPORTS. 

TEXT:  NEWS OF THE ASSISTANCE PACKAGE CAME AS SECRETARY OF STATE 
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT WAS MEETING WITH THE INTERIM LEADERSHIP OF THE
IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS. 

THE I-N-C IS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS TOGETHER 
SEVERAL IRAQI OPPOSITION FACTIONS OPPOSED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF 
PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN. 

OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS PLANNING 
TO SEND A REQUEST TO CONGRESS FOR PERMISSION TO PROVIDE 
NON-LETHAL EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING TO THE IRAQI OPPOSITION. 

STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE AID CAN BE USED 
TO HELP SET UP OFFICES AND A HEADQUARTERS, AND PROVIDE TRAINING 
TO HELP BUILD A BASE OF POPULAR SUPPORT. 

                     /// FIRST RUBIN ACT ///

         ... WHICH WILL HELP TO BUILD UNITY AMONG THE OPPOSITION,
         DEVELOP GREATER POLITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ENABLE 
         THEM TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT MORE EFFECTIVELY.

                         /// END ACT ///

OFFICIALS WERE UNABLE TO SAY HOW MUCH ASSISTANCE THEY PLAN TO 
PROVIDE, BUT THEY HOPE IT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN TIME FOR AN I-N-C 
GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JULY. 

SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS THE TALKS IN WASHINGTON ARE PART OF 
THE ADMINISTRATION'S LONG TERM EFFORT TO PLAN FOR A DEMOCRATIC, 
POST-SADDAM GOVERNMENT IN IRAQ 

                    /// SECOND RUBIN ACT ///

         ONE PRIORITY IS THE STRENGTHENING OF AN IRAQI OPPOSITION
         THAT CAN LAY OUT A SOLID PLATFORM FOR THE POST-SADDAM 
         RECOVERY IN ALL SECTORS OF NATIONAL LIFE.  MEETING IN 
         WASHINGTON TODAY IS A CRITICAL STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

                         /// END ACT ///

DESPITE THE RIVALRIES THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE IRAQI OPPOSITION IN 
THE PAST, U-S OFFICIALS SAY THE FACTIONS ALL SHARE THE GOAL OF A 
REGIME CHANGE IN IRAQ.  BUT OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE BRINGING THAT 
GOAL ABOUT WILL  NOT  BE EASY.   (SIGNED) 

NEB/KBK/PHW/WTW

 



24-May-99 4:23 PM EDT (2023 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.