Text of unscheduled report by Iraqi TV

The Culture and Information Ministry spokesman has commented on the statements by US President Clinton during a news conference he held this evening, saying that once again the President has clearly contradicted himself regarding the world's stand on his country's hostile threats against Iraq.

The spokesman added: While Clinton began by admitting that there are parties that want sanctions to be lifted from Iraq, but that he is not one of them and does not support lifting them until Iraq's so-called adherence to UN Security Council resolutions, he went on to say, in an obvious contradiction, that the number of those who sympathized with his country's stand, which he described as firm, had increased in this crisis.

The spokesman said that Clinton and the members of his administration are well aware of the extent to which the USA was isolated this time in its hostile stand against Iraq. World public opinion took a stand against the US proposals after examining the legitimate facts regarding Iraq's demands for the preservation of its sovereignty and security, and the vital interests of its people.

The spokesman referred to the objection by three permanent members of the UN Security Council and by all the European states, with the exception of the satellite ally, Britain, as well as all the Arab countries and other world states, to the logic of aggression and show of force the US administration pursues instead of resorting to the logic of the age and civilized societies, which is represented by dialogue and negotiations based on international laws, charters and norms, particularly the UN Charter.

At his news conference, which lasted for over an hour, the US President touched on several issues, including that of naming his dog. He said he would name it after his uncle, who died recently, out of pride in his uncle, in appreciation for his role in raising him, and out of respect for him.

Source: Iraqi TV, Baghdad, in Arabic 2100 gmt 16 Dec 97

BBC Monitoring (http://www.monitor.bbc.co.uk), based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©