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The Standoff with Iraq

Albright to begin Iraq talks with U.S. allies

Albright criticized Iraq Wednesday in a State Department news conference

Russia hopeful but 'not sure' attack is avoidable

January 29, 1998
Web posted at: 10:14 a.m. EDT (1014 GMT)

Latest developments:

• Russian diplomat optimistic but cautious
• Albright's first stop: Paris
• Hussein's fighting words
• Related stories and sites

(CNN) -- Warning that the United States is ready to act alone to stop Iraq's weapons program, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright traveled to Paris on Thursday to begin a series of talks with European and Mideast allies, some of whom oppose the use of force.

Iraqi President Saddam Hussein warned that his country would resist any "aggression."

Russian diplomat optimistic but cautious

While there seemed to be little diplomatic progress to head off a threatened military strike, Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who meets Albright in Madrid on Friday, raised hopes of a breakthrough but also said he was "not sure" military action could be avoided.

"We hope that the current political and diplomatic efforts will be successful," Primakov said, adding that military intervention "would have very negative effects."

While the Russian diplomat said his country "will make every effort to find a solution," he also said he was "not sure we will be able to do something to prevent it (a military strike)."

Primakov said he would meet President Boris Yeltsin's special envoy, Viktor Posuvalyuk, in the Spanish capital on Thursday night to be briefed on the results of his talks with the Iraqi leadership.

Albright's first stop: Paris

"Saddam's goal... is to achieve the lifting of U.N. sanctions while retaining and enhancing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs," Albright said Wednesday.

Albright has said Washington was prepared to unleash the U.S. naval and air forces assembled in the Gulf, without international backing if necessary, to ensure an end to Iraq's biological, chemical and nuclear weapons programs. U.N. weapons inspectors say Iraq has prevented them from fully carrying out their duties.

"I am not going anywhere to seek support," she said in Washington on Wednesday before leaving on her six-day mission. "I am going to explain our position."

"Over the next few days," Albright said, "I will be explaining the American position to leaders in the countries I visit while making it clear that in confronting the clear and present danger posed by Iraqi lawlessness, the diplomatic string is running out."

She was to meet French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine in Paris on Thursday, Primakov in Madrid on Friday and British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook in London on Saturday.

Also on her six-day mission, Albright will stop in Israel and the West Bank to discuss the stalled Mideast peace process. Later, she'll hold more Iraq-related talks in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt, which have been wary of overtly supporting military action by the United States.

Britain has been supportive of the U.S. position. While Russia and France support pressure to allow the U.N. inspections to resume, they oppose the use of force.

The United States says it is authorized to use that force by previous U.N. Security Council resolutions.

Hussein's fighting words

As the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan ends Thursday, Iraqi ministers mark the first day of Eid el-Fitr feasting

The Iraqi News Agency said Saddam's message was delivered in a message of congratulations to leaders of the ruling Baath Party and the members of the Revolutionary Command Council to mark the start of Eid el-Fitr, the holiday that marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

"If the aggressors are deluded and attack us, the sons of our (Arab) nation and (our) friends will find a people performing their national duties at a surprising level," INA quoted Saddam as saying.

"The President affirmed that the attacked (people) can do nothing except to fight, and when they are compelled to fight there is nothing more honorable than defending the high values and patriotism," the agency said.

Also on Thursday, Iraqis flocked to cemeteries in Baghdad to mourn their dead while state-run newspapers told them fighting the United States was part of their national duty.

Correspondents Steve Hurst, Peter Arnett and Reuters contributed to this report.

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Iraq Standoff Main  |  Latest Stories  |  Message Board

Related stories:

• Iraq lashes out at chief U.N. weapons inspector - January 28, 1998
• U.S. to Iraq: Diplomacy 'running out' - January 28, 1998
• France, Russia oppose using force in Iraqi crisis - January 28, 1998

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