News

USIS Washington 
File

02 November 1998

TEXT: CLINTON ON SIGNING THE "IRAQ LIBERATION ACT OF 1998" OCT. 31

(Backing elements advocating very different future for Iraq) (920)



Washington -- President Clinton October 31 signed into law H.R. 4655,
the "Iraq Liberation Act of 1998."


"This Act," the President said, "makes clear that it is the sense of
the Congress that the United States should support those elements of
the Iraqi opposition that advocate a very different future for Iraq
than the bitter reality of internal repression and external aggression
that the current regime in Baghdad now offers.


"Let me be clear," Clinton said, "what the U.S. objectives are:



"The United States wants Iraq to rejoin the family of nations as a
freedom-loving and law-abiding member. This is in our interest and
that of our allies within the region.


"The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at
home. I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due
to Iraq's history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve
and desire freedom like everyone else.


The President said that the United States "looks forward to a
democratically supported regime that would permit us to enter into a
dialogue leading to the reintegration of Iraq into normal
international life."


Clnton noted that his Administration "has pursued, and will continue
to pursue, these objectives through active application of all relevant
United Nations Security Council resolutions. The evidence is
overwhelming that such changes will not happen under the current Iraq
leadership."


The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998, he said, "provides additional,
discretionary authorities under which my Administration can act to
further the objectives I outlined above. There are, of course, other
important elements of U.S. policy. These include the maintenance of
U.N. Security Council support efforts to eliminate Iraq's prohibited
weapons and missile programs and economic sanctions that continue to
deny the regime the means to reconstitute those threats to
international peace and security. United States support for the Iraqi
opposition will be carried out consistent with those policy objectives
as well."


Following is the White House text:



(begin text)



THE WHITE HOUSE



Office of the Press Secretary

October 31, 1998



STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT



Today I am signing into law H.R. 4655, the "Iraq Liberation Act of
1998." This Act makes clear that it is the sense of the Congress that
the United States should support those elements of the Iraqi
opposition that advocate a very different future for Iraq than the
bitter reality of internal repression and external aggression that the
current regime in Baghdad now offers.


Let me be clear on what the U.S. objectives are:



The United States wants Iraq to rejoin the family of nations as a
freedom-loving and law-abiding member. This is in our interest and
that of our allies within the region.


The United States favors an Iraq that offers its people freedom at
home. I categorically reject arguments that this is unattainable due
to Iraq's history or its ethnic or sectarian make-up. Iraqis deserve
and desire freedom like everyone else.


The United States looks forward to a democratically supported regime
that would permit us to enter into a dialogue leading to the
reintegration of Iraq into normal international life.


My Administration has pursued, and will continue to pursue, these
objectives through active application of all relevant United Nations
Security Council resolutions. The evidence is overwhelming that such
changes will not happen under the current Iraq leadership.


In the meantime, while the United States continues to look to the
Security Council's efforts to keep the current regime's behavior in
check, we look forward to new leadership in Iraq that has the support
of the Iraqi people. The United States is providing support to
opposition groups from all sectors of the Iraqi community that could
lead to a popularly supported government.


On October 21, 1998, I signed into law the Omnibus Consolidated and
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999, which made $8 million
available for assistance to the Iraqi democratic opposition. This
assistance is intended to help the democratic opposition unify, work
together more effectively, and articulate the aspirations of the Iraqi
people for a pluralistic, participa--tory political system that will
include all of Iraq's diverse ethnic and religious groups. As required
by the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 1998 (Public
Law 105-174), the Department of State submitted a report to the
Congress on plans to establish a program to support the democratic
opposition. My Administration, as required by that statute, has also
begun to implement a program to compile information regarding
allegations of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes by
Iraq's current leaders as a step towards bringing to justice those
directly responsible for such acts.


The Iraq Liberation Act of 1998 provides additional, discretionary
authorities
under which my Administration can act to further the objectives I
outlined above. There are, of course, other important elements of U.S.
policy. These include the maintenance of U.N. Security Council support
efforts to eliminate Iraq's prohibited weapons and missile programs
and economic sanctions that continue to deny the regime the means to
reconstitute those threats to international peace and security. United
States support for the Iraqi opposition will be carried out consistent
with those policy objectives as well.


Similarly, U.S. support must be attuned to what the opposition can
effectively make use of as it develops over time. With those
observations, I sign H.R. 4655 into law.


WILLIAM J.  CLINTON



THE WHITE HOUSE,



October 31, 1998.



(end text)