DATE=6/9/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PICKERING PROTESTED (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263332
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  A top U-S diplomat found himself before a 
hostile audience of Arab-Americans in Washington 
Friday as he tried to defend U-S policy toward Iraq.  
Correspondent Nick Simeone has the story.


TEXT:  Under Secretary of State Thomas Pickering was 
invited to address the American-Arab Anti-
Discrimination Committee.  But he quickly found U-S 
views toward isolating Iraq were no longer popular 
with a group that, nine years ago, had largely 
supported the war to drive Iraqi forces out of Kuwait.

Ambassador Pickering was in the middle of explaining 
the need for maintaining United Nations sanctions on 
Iraq -- and blaming Saddam Hussein for the suffering 
of his own people -- when he was shouted down by many 
in his audience.

            /// PICKERING ACT AND CROWD SHOUTING ///

      Saddam refuses to declare fully and to destroy 
      his weapons of mass destruction.  He has not 
      returned stolen property, accounted for missing 
      prisoners or stopped repressing his own people.  
      That is why it is critical for sanctions to 
      remain in place.

            /// BOOS FROM CROWD ///

      CROWD NOISE: Shame, shame on you.  How dare you, 
      want to kill the kids of Iraq.  What kind of 
      human being are you?   Israel is bombing 
      Southern Lebanon, not Iraq.  Iraq is no threat 
      to the Arab world, or to nobody.

            /// FADE TO TEXT ///

Some shook their fists at Ambassador Pickering.  
Others urged the audience to walk out in protest.

            /// ACT OF AUDIENCE MEMBER ///

      What right do your planes, your government and 
      the British government have to bomb Iraq on a 
      daily basis?  You're not even authorized by 
      United Nations sanctions for American planes to 
      bomb Iraq.  (APPLAUSE)

            /// END ACT ///

Whatever warmth there was left the room, and the third 
most senior diplomat in the United States was left 
standing on stage as members of the nation's largest 
Arab-American group denounced what they called a pro-
Israel Middle East policy at the expense of other 
peoples' suffering.

Despite the mood here, this confrontation comes at a 
time when U-S officials are sounding optimistic about 
the chances of reaching a comprehensive peace 
agreement between Israel and the Palestinians in the 
coming months.  Peace talks between the two sides are 
set to resume in Washington next week.   (SIGNED)

NEB/NJS/JP




09-Jun-2000 15:40 PM EDT (09-Jun-2000 1940 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.