02:35 PM ET 02/04/98

Yeltsin sees danger of world war over Iraq

By Adam Tanner

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Boris Yeltsin, in startling and blunt comments, said Wednesday that President Clinton could provoke a world war if he mishandled the crisis over Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction.

A somber Yeltsin said at a televised meeting in the Kremlin that Russia was one of many countries to send envoys to negotiate with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein over his stand-off with the United Nations.

``We must try at the same time to make Clinton feel that with his actions in Iraq he can lead to a world war,'' Yeltsin said.

``He is acting too noisily there,'' he said during a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Chubais, speaking slowly.

Yeltsin also continued telephone diplomacy with French President Jacques Chirac and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Yeltsin and Chirac ``noted some positive progress in the Iraqi position,'' the Kremlin said. With Blair he discussed ways of ``lowering tensions around Iraq,'' another statement said.

Yeltsin's public remarks were his strongest yet against U.S.

threats of military action. Washington demands that Iraq comply with United Nations resolutions and let U.N. inspectors check freely for suspected weapons of mass destruction, which Baghdad denies possessing.

``One must be more careful in this world, saturated with all sorts of weapons which are sometimes in terrorists' hands,'' the Kremlin chief said. ``It's all very dangerous.'' ``Well now (some are saying) 'let's flood it all with planes and bombs'. No, frankly speaking, it is not like Clinton at all.'' World financial markets, including bonds and the dollar, reacted immediately to Yeltsin's comments, with emerging market debt heading lower in an already bearish market.

``We want to make it clear to Clinton that we do not agree with such a policy. And the members of the United Nations Security Council will be against it,'' Yeltsin said.

``Of, course, considering my very close contacts with Clinton, Chirac, with (German Chancellor) Helmut Kohl and others, I could play a big role here,'' he added.

Yeltsin, who has kept a low profile so far this year, had not publicly spoken about Iraq in recent days.

It was not clear to what extent his remarks were aimed at a domestic audience or whether they were intended to bolster his envoy, Viktor Posuvalyuk, now in Baghdad seeking to win concessions from the Iraqis to calm the crisis.

Moscow helped broker a deal during a similar stand-off between Baghdad and the U.N. late last year, and has led attempts to find a diplomatic solution this time around.

Russia's opposition-dominated lower house of parliament also stepped up pressure.

In a non-binding resolution, the State Duma criticized U.S.

threats toward Iraq and urged Yeltsin to ask the Foreign Ministry to consider ending Russia's cooperation in international sanctions against Iraq if the U.S. attacks.

In a further sign of anti-U.S. sentiment in the assembly, Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov suggested that he did not oppose Iraq having nuclear arms in the face of such pressure from abroad.

The world ``is looking at an agreement to take away nuclear defense from the country,'' he told reporters, referring to Iraq. ``Under these conditions, no self-respecting politician or parliamentarian would consider such an agreement.'' Russia has said it backs U.N. resolutions on keeping weapons of mass destruction out of Iraqi hands, but the Duma's strident views would help Yeltsin in his talks with Western leaders.

Russia views Iraq, a close partner in Soviet times, as a future potential ally ready to re-engage in trade once U.N. sanctions are lifted.

Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who is overseeing Russian mediation efforts, spoke by telephone with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and they planned to talk again on Wednesday, the Foreign Ministry said. No details were given.

^REUTERS@ from Infobeat, http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2552739085-fd5 Feb 5 1998


06:44 AM ET 02/04/98

Yeltsin quotes on Iraq crisis

MOSCOW, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Russian President Boris Yeltsin raised the stakes considerably in the Iraq crisis on Wednesday by saying U.S. President Bill Clinton's strategy towards Baghdad could spark a world war.

A translation of Yeltsin's televised comments during a meeting with First Deputy Prime Minister Anatoly Chubais follows (translation by Reuters, about 150 words):

``Of, course, considering my very close contacts with Clinton, Chirac, with Helmut Kohl and others, I could play a big role here.

And on the telephone I spoke with them all. We have exchanged letters, and our special envoys contacted each other...and everyone has sent his envoy to Hussein.

We must try at the same time to make Clinton feel that with his actions in Iraq he can lead to a world war.

He is acting too noisily there. One must be more careful in this world saturated with all sorts of weapons which are sometimes in terrorists' hands. It's all very dangerous.

Well now (some are saying) let us flood it all with planes and bombs. No, frankly speaking, it does not look like Clinton at all.''

^REUTERS@

(from Infobeat, http://www.infobeat.com/stories/cgi/story.cgi?id=2552733366-9a6 , Feb 5 98)