TRANSCRIPT: IRAQ MUST COMPLY WITH UNSC RESOLUTIONS, SAYS ALBRIGHT (Secstate notes Bahrain's support in Iraqi crisis) Manama, Bahrain -- "Saddam Hussein, armed with chemical and biological weapons, is a threat to the international community. But it is a profoundly dangerous threat to the nations of the Persian Gulf and the entire Middle East," Secretary of State Madeleine Albright asserted February 3."Saddam does not discriminate in the use of his weapons. Saudis, Kuwaitis, Bahrainis, Iranians, Israelis and Iraqis have all been his targets. We must stop Saddam from threatening any people of this region with weapons of mass destruction again," she said at a press briefing with Bahraini Foreign Minister Shaikh Muhammad Bin Mubarak al Khalifa.
Albright said "the Amir agrees with the United States that diplomatic options are quickly running out, and that soon we will be forced to make some hard decisions. Diplomacy remains our preferred option. But the standard for a real diplomatic solution must be full compliance with the Security Council and unconditional, unfettered access for UN weapons inspections."
The Secretary said that throughout this trip, she has found "unanimous agreement on the fact that Saddam Hussein must fulfill his obligations imposed upon him by the Security Council, that it is essential to have unfettered, unconditional access to the sites by UNSCOM, that whatever comes of this if diplomacy fails and military action is necessary, that Saddam Hussein is responsible for the grave consequences.
"I have had I think very positive support, whether it's from King Hussein or from the Amir here, or Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, for what we are seeking. And I think that we believe that we will have all the cooperation we need across the board," she said.
She stressed that the United States has no quarrel with the Iraqi people. "We do not wish to see women and children used as human shields. We do not wish to see people sick and hungry. The U.S. wrote the UN resolution permitting Iraq to sell oil for food and medicine. Now we want to expand it so more food and medicine can be provided more effectively to the Iraqi people," she said, adding, "But nothing will change our determination to thwart Saddam from ever threatening this region with weapons of mass destruction again."
Albright noted that this year marks 50 years of relations and friendship between the United States and Bahrain and she expressed the appreciation of the U.S. for Bahrain's support in this time of crisis.
PRESS BRIEFING BY SECRETARY MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT AND BAHRAINI FOREIGN MINISTER SHAIKH MUHAMMAD BIN MUBARAK AL KHALIFA Sheraton Hotel Manama, Bahrain February 3, 1998