DATE=  11/23/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223125

TITLE=U-S/IRAQ WRAP (L)

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON 

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN SAYS THE STAND-OFF WITH 

IRAQ WILL NOT BE OVER UNTIL U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE ACCESS TO

EVERY SITE WHERE THEY SUSPECT WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION COULD 

BE MADE OR STORED.  BUT IRAQ SAYS SOME OF THOSE SITES SHOULD 

REMAIN OFF LIMITS.  CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS THE 

CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS NOT BACKING AWAY FROM ITS THREAT TO USE

FORCE IF IRAQ CONTINUES TO BLOCK THE WORK OF WEAPONS INSPECTORS. 



TEXT:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION IS MATCHING ITS MILITARY BUILD 

UP IN THE GULF WITH EQUALLY STRONG WORDS ABOUT WHAT IT NOW 

EXPECTS FROM IRAQ. 



WITH AMERICAN WEAPONS INSPECTORS BACK ON THE JOB, DEFENSE 

SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN TOLD N-B-C TELEVISION'S "MEET THE PRESS" 

(SUNDAY) THE STAND OFF WITH BAGHDAD HAS SHIFTED FROM ALLOWING 

WEAPONS INSPECTORS BACK INTO THE COUNTRY TO WHETHER THEY WILL BE 

GIVEN UNLIMITED ACCESS TO EVERY SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITE THEY WANT 

TO INSPECT.



                         // COHEN ACT //



         WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP THE PRESSURE ON.  ALL THE MORE 

         REASON WHY WE HAVE GOT TO HAVE UNFETTERED, UNLIMITED 

         ACCESS, AND THAT IS WHAT PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS DEMANDED 

         AND THAT IS WHAT WE INTEND TO GET AND WE BELIEVE THE 

         (U-N) SECURITY COUNCIL WILL SUPPORT THAT.   



                         // END ACT // 



IRAQ THOUGH, HAS NO INTENTION OF GIVING WEAPONS SPECIALISTS 

ACCESS TO PRESIDENTIAL SITES, WHERE DEADLY NERVE AND CHEMICAL 

AGENTS COULD BE STORED.  BAGHDAD'S AMBASSADOR TO THE U-N NIZAR 

HAMDOON TOLD N-B-C THIS IS A MATTER OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND 

DIGNITY.



                        // HAMDOON ACT //



         THE ONLY SITES WHERE WE RESTRICTED THEM (U-N WEAPONS 

         INSPECTORS) WERE THE SITES THAT ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO 

         THE PRESIDENT AND WE THINK THAT THOSE SITES SHOULD NOT 

         BE VISITED.  



                          // END ACT //



IRAQ DENIES IT HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION OR THE 

WARHEADS TO DELIVER THEM.  BUT 63 SITES HAVE BEEN PLACED OFF 

LIMITS TO INSPECTORS.  AGAIN SUNDAY, DEFENSE SECRETARY COHEN 

REFUSED TO RULE OUT A MILITARY OPTION IF IRAQ CONTINUES TO BLOCK 

THE WORK OF U-N WEAPONS SPECIALISTS. 



                     // SECOND COHEN ACT // 



         THE PRESIDENT HAS RESERVED ALL OPTIONS.  HE HAS NOT 

         RULED ANYTHING IN OR OUT AND THAT IS PRECISELY THE WAY 

         IT SHOULD REMAIN.  



                         // END ACT // 



DESPITE ADMINISTRATION CLAIMS OF UNITY WITHIN THE SECURITY 

COUNCIL, THERE IS STILL NO STRONG BACKING IN THE COUNCIL FOR 

MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAQ.  FOR RICHARD BUTLER, THE CHAIRMAN 

OF THE U-N INSPECTION TEAM WORKING IN IRAQ, THAT IS BESIDE THE 

POINT. 



                        // BUTLER ACT //



         ARE WE GOING TO LIVE IN A 21ST CENTURY IN WHICH WEAPONS 

         OF MASS DESTRUCTION ARE AROUND EVERY CORNER OR INDEED IN

         THE SUBWAYS AND SO ON?  OR ARE WE GOING TO LIVE A MORE 

         CIVILIZED LIFE?  AND IT IS NOTHING LESS THAN THAT WHICH 

         IS AT STAKE IN GETTING THIS JOB DONE WITH IRAQ AS SOON 

         AS POSSIBLE. 



                         // END ACT // 



(SIGNED) 



NEB/NJS/RAE



23-Nov-97 12:48 PM EST (1748 UTC)

NNNN



Source: Voice of America

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