DATE=  11/18/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222861

TITLE=RUSSIA / IRAQ (L)

BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN

DATELINE=MOSCOW

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS HE WILL HOLD URGENT TALKS 

WITH HIS FRENCH, BRITISH AND AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS ON A PLAN TO 

END THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS.  

V-O-A'S PETER HEINLEIN REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.



TEXT:  THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME AT THE END OF A DAY OF FAST-BREAKING

DEVELOPMENTS.  IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ ARRIVED IN 

THE RUSSIAN CAPITAL ON SHORT NOTICE AND WAS WHISKED AWAY FOR 

MEETINGS WITH FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AND PRESIDENT 

BORIS YELTSIN.



MR. PRIMAKOV SAID THE IRAQI OFFICIAL HAD COME WITH AN ANSWER TO A

RUSSIAN PLAN FOR AVOIDING THE USE OF FORCE IN THE U-N ARMS 

INSPECTION CRISIS.



         /// PRIMAKOV ACT - IN RUSSIAN - FADE UNDER ///



THE RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SAID THE PLAN CALLS FOR IRAQ TO 

FULFILL ALL ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER U-N RESOLUTIONS.



MR. PRIMAKOV WAS VAGUE ON DETAILS, BUT SAID HE WOULD MEET 

WEDNESDAY WITH HIS BRITISH, FRENCH, AND AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS TO 

DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL, EITHER IN PERSON OR BY TELEPHONE.



MR. AZIZ'S STOP IN MOSCOW CAME DURING A WHIRLWIND TOUR OF FOREIGN

CAPITALS TO RALLY SUPPORT FOR IRAQ'S POSITION IN ITS 

CONFRONTATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.  THE UNITED STATES HAS 

ASKED RUSSIA TO ASSIST IN SETTLING THE DISPUTE.



MOSCOW TRADITIONALLY HAS HAD GOOD RELATIONS WITH BAGHDAD.  MR. 

PRIMAKOV, AN ARAB SPECIALIST, MAKES NO SECRET OF HIS LONG 

FRIENDSHIP WITH IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.



BUT RUSSIA HAS BACKED U-N RESOLUTIONS ON IRAQ, AND URGED THE 

BAGHDAD GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW ARMS INSPECTORS BACK INTO THE 

COUNTRY.  BUT MR. PRIMAKOV SAYS HIS VISION OF A DIPLOMATIC 

SOLUTION INVOLVES AN EVENTUAL END TO SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.   

(SIGNED)



NEB/PFH/JWH/RAE



18-Nov-97 11:58 AM EST (1658 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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