Voice of America, 98-12-20

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO/POLICE (S ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

[02] BLAIR/IRAQ (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[03] BLAIR / IRAQ (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[04] BRITAIN/SADDAM (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

[05] IRAQ / FRANCE (S&L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

[01] KOSOVO/POLICE (S ONLY) BY PHILIP SMUCKER (PRISTINA)

INTRO: THE AMERICAN CHIEF OF THE INTERNATIONAL VERIFICATION MISSION IN KOSOVO SAYS SERBIAN POLICE BEHAVED INEPTLY AFTER THE ENVOY WAS THREATENED BY A MAN ARMED WITH A GUN AND A GRENADE. PHILIP SMUCKER REPORTS FROM PRISTINA.

TEXT: MISSION CHIEF WILLIAM WALKER SAYS THREE ARMED MEN THREATENED THREE OF HIS BODYGUARDS AT HIS PRISTINA APARTMENT EARLY SATURDAY, AND WHEN HE WENT TO INVESTIGATE, ONE OF THE MEN, WHO HAD BEEN DRINKING HEAVILY, TURNED HIS GUN ON HIM.

MR. WALKER SAYS A SERBIAN POLICE GUARD IN A NEARBY BOOTH IGNORED THE INCIDENT, AND IT WAS A HALF HOUR BEFORE OTHER OFFICERS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND ARRESTED THE RINGLEADER.

WHEN SOME OF MY PEOPLE ARE APPROACHED BY DRUNKEN POLICEMEN WITH GUNS POINTING AT THEM, THEIR RESPONSE WAS EMBARRASSING. IT WAS ABOUT AS INEPT A POLICE PERFORMANCE AS I HAVE EVER SEEN.

THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE END OF A WEEK THAT SAW A SHARP INCREASE OF KILLINGS IN CLASHES BETWEEN SERBS AND ETHNIC ALBANIANS. MR. WALKER IS CHIEF OF THE UNARMED VERIFICATION MISSION IN KOSOVO OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE. (SIGNED)
NEB/PS/DW/GE
19-Dec-98 10:50 AM EST (1550 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] BLAIR/IRAQ (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR IS ALREADY LOOKING TO WHAT COMES NEXT AFTER THE AIR STRIKES END, BUT HE WON'T SAY WHEN THE MILITARY OPERATION WILL STOP. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THAT CRITICISM OF THE PROLONGED MILITARY OPERATION IS INCREASING IN EUROPE AND THE ARAB WORLD.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS FOUR NIGHTS OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ ARE ACHIEVING THEIR OBJECTIVES -- TO DIMINISH SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MILITARY THREAT TO HIS NEIGHBORS. AND, HE SAYS, AFTER THE AIR STRIKES END BRITAIN WILL PURSUE A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN THAT CONTINUES TO ISOLATE AND CONTAIN THE IRAQI LEADER .

MR. BLAIR ACKNOWLEDGES DISAGREEMENT AMONG THE ALLIES OVER THE JOINT U-S-BRITISH OPERATION BUT SAYS THERE WAS NO OTHER OPTION AFTER A U-N REPORT CONFIRMED THE IRAQI LEADER'S PATTERN OF OBSTRUCTION AND CONFRONTATION.

THE ALTERNATIVE IS NOT PEACE BUT THE ALTERNATIVE IS SADDAM HUSSEIN OUT OF HIS CAGE TO CAUSE DESTRUCTION AGAIN.

PRIME MINISTER BLAIR IS CAREFUL TO STRESS THAT THE AIM OF THE AIR STRIKES IS NOT TO TOPPLE SADDAM HUSSEIN BUT TO DISMANTLE HIS MILITARY CAPABILITIES, ESPECIALLY THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

IT IS WITHOUT ANY DOUBT OUR DESIRE TO SEE THE END OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, AND IF IT COULD BE ASSISTED IN ANY WAY THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN WE HAVE CARRIED OUT OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, WE WOULD WELCOME IT. BUT I HAVE TO DISTINGUISH THAT FROM SAYING IT IS AN OBJECTIVE AND TEST OF OUR MISSION.

MR. BLAIR'S APPEARANCE ON T-V SATURDAY FOLLOWED EARLIER NEWS CONFERENCES BY HIS FOREIGN MINISTER AND SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. THE PUBLIC INFORMATION CAMPAIGN COMES AS CRITICISM INCREASES OF THE MILITARY OPERATION.

ARAB AND EUROPEAN LEADERS HAVE CALLED FOR A HALT TO THE BOMBINGS. NOISY PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN OUT ON THE STREETS OF LONDON. DEMONSTRATIONS IN SOME ARAB CAPITALS HAVE TURNED VIOLENT. BRITISH AND AMERICAN EMBASSIES AROUND THE WORLD HAVE STEPPED UP SECURITY IN CASE OF REPRISAL ATTACKS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/DW/GE
19-Dec-98 12:57 PM EST (1757 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] BLAIR / IRAQ (S) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: BRITISH PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR SAYS OPERATION DESERT FOX HAS DIMINISHED SADDAM HUSSEIN'S THREAT TO HIS NEIGHBORS. BUT HE SAYS BRITAIN IS READY TO STRIKE AGAIN TO CONTAIN THE IRAQI LEADER. CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON BRITAIN WILL SEND AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO THE GULF IN JANUARY TO BACK UP THE WARNING.

TEXT: PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS FUTURE POLICY TOWARD IRAQ WILL RELY ON SURVEILLANCE AND CONTAINMENT TO CURB SADDAM HUSSEIN'S THREAT TO REGIONAL STABILITY. HE SAYS OPERATION DESERT FOX SET BACK IRAQ'S MILITARY CAPABILITIES BY YEARS. PRIME MINISTER BLAIR SAYS THE STRIKE AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MILITARY MACHINE IS ALSO A WARNING TO OTHERS WHO ABUSE POWER.

THOSE WHO ABUSE FORCE TO WAGE WAR MUST BE CONFRONTED BY THOSE WILLING TO USE FORCE TO MAINTAIN PEACE, OTHERWISE THE SIMPLE TRUTH IS THAT WAR BECOMES MORE LIKELY.

MR BLAIR CALLS FOR A NEW AND TOUGHER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION PROCESS AND A TIGHTENING UP OF SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. (SIGNED)
NEB / LK / DW / WD
20-Dec-98 7:15 AM EST (1215 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] BRITAIN/SADDAM (L ONLY) BY LAURIE KASSMAN (LONDON)

INTRO: AFTER THE THIRD WAVE OF AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ, BRITISH OFFICIALS ARE TAKING TURNS TO EXPLAIN WHY WASHINGTON AND LONDON DECIDED TO LAUNCH THE ASSAULT AGAINST SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MILITARY CAPABILITIES. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS BRITAIN IS LAUNCHING A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN TO DIPLOMATICALLY ISOLATE SADDAM HUSSEIN TO CONTAIN HIM.

TEXT: FOREIGN SECRETARY ROBIN COOKE OFFERS A LONG LIST OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES, IN PART TO JUSTIFY THE AIR STRIKES LAUNCHED AGAINST IRAQI MILITARY INSTALLATIONS. HE TALKS OF ASSASSINATIONS OF PRISONERS, MILITARY OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF HIS OWN EXTENDED FAMILY.

MR. COOKE TOLD A NEW CONFERENCE THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S AGGRESSION AGAINST HIS NEIGHBORS SHOULD NOT BE FORGOTTEN EITHER.

SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS ONLY BEEN IN POWER FOR 12 YEARS BEFORE SANCTIONS WERE PLACED UPON HIM AND HIS REGIME. OF THOSE 12 YEARS IN POWER, WITHOUT SANCTIONS HIS COUNTRY WAS AT WAR FOR NINE OF THEM. IF THERE HAD BEEN NO SANCTIONS FOR THE PAST EIGHT YEARS, SADDAM WOULD BE AT WAR AGAIN.

FOREIGN SECRETARY COOKE SAYS THE IRAQI LEADER'S BRUTALITY HAS EARNED HIM ENEMIES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.

THAT'S WHY HE MAINTAINS AN EXTRAVAGANT NUMBER OF MILITARY FORCES, WHICH ARE NOT THERE TO PROTECT THE IRAQI PEOPLE BUT TO PROTECT HIM FROM THE IRAQI PEOPLE

AS LONG AS SADDAM HUSSEIN REMAINS IN POWER, MR COOKE SAYS BRITAIN WILL KEEP UP ITS CAMPAIGN OF CONTAINMENT.

WE WILL PURSUING A STRATEGY TO CONTAIN SADDAM. FIRST OF ALL, TO MAINTAIN A CREDIBLE THREAT AGAINST ANY ATTEMPT BY SADDAM TO REASSEMBLE THE MILITARY WAR MACHINE OR THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WHICH HAVE BEEN DESTROYED DURING THIS MILITARY CAMPAIGN.

MR. COOKE SAYS BRITAIN WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE THE IRAQI OPPOSITION IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REMOVE SADDAM HUSSEIN FROM POWER.

SINCE THE START OF THE AIR STRIKES WEDNESDAY NIGHT, BRITISH OFFICIALS -- FROM PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR ON DOWN -- HAVE BEEN APPEARING REGULARLY ON T-V TO JUSTIFY BRITAIN'S PARTICIPATION AS CRITICISM OF THE OPERATION INCREASES ACROSS EUROPE AND THE ARAB WORLD. (SIGNED)
NEB/LK/DW/GE
19-Dec-98 12:18 PM EST (1718 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] IRAQ / FRANCE (S&L) BY JULIAN NUNDY (PARIS)

INTRO: FRANCE HAS WELCOMED THE END OF THE AMERICAN-LED BOMBARDMENTS OF IRAQ AND IS CALLING FOR MEASURES TO EASE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST BAGHDAD TO END THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE. JULIAN NUNDY REPORTS FROM PARIS.

TEXT: FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC SAYS IT IS NOW URGENT TO IMPROVE THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE.

FRANCE -- WHICH HAS CRITICIZED BOTH IRAQ'S PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN FOR PROVOKING THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE U-S AND BRITISH DECISION TO USE AIR POWER AGAINST IRAQ -- HAS BEEN WAGING A CAMPAIGN FOR SOME YEARS TO EASE THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO AGAINST BAGHDAD.

IN THE FIRST FRENCH REACTION TO THE END OF THE LATEST ATTACKS, MR. CHIRAC SAID IT IS THE IRAQI PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE SANCTIONS.

MR. CHIRAC SAYS ANY TALK OF LIFTING OR EASING SANCTIONS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY GUARANTEES OF EFFECTIVE MONITORING OF IRAQ'S MILITARY AND STRICT CONTROLS ON HOW IRAQ SPENDS ITS MONEY.

FRENCH COMPANIES, PARTICULARLY OIL AND CONSTRUCTION FIRMS, HAVE BEEN POSITIONING THEMSELVES FOR SOME YEARS TO HELP IRAQ RETURN TO NORMAL WHEN SANCTIONS ARE FINALLY LIFTED.

ALTHOUGH FRANCE HAS DISTANCED ITSELF FROM THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN IN THE LATEST CRISIS, THIS HAS NOT EARNED IT ANY GRATITUDE IN BAGHDAD. IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TAREK AZIZ EARLIER ACCUSED MR. CHIRAC OF BEING OPPORTUNIST.

IN HIS LATEST STATEMENT, PRESIDENT CHIRAC SAID FRANCE NOW WANTS TO SEE RELATIONS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE REST OF THE WORLD ENTER A NEW PHASE, WITH GENUINE EFFORTS TO SEEK A WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS.

ADDING THAT THIS WOULD REQUIRE NEW METHODS TO MONITOR IRAQ'S ARMAMENTS DEVELOPMENT, MR. CHIRAC SAID FRANCE WILL DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO HELP. (SIGNED)
NEB / JWN / DW / WD
20-Dec-98 7:49 AM EST (1249 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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