MEDIA REACTION ON THE U.S., UN AND IRAQ;

UNCLAS HARARE 002316

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON THE U.S., UN AND IRAQ;
HARARE


1. Under headline "U.S. drums of war silenced - for
now" the government-controlled daily "Chronicle"
dedicated its October 21 editorial to applauding the
recent United Nations resolution regarding arms
inspection in Iraq. Excerpts:


2. ". . .While we applaud the new UN resolution that
does not call for the automatic use of force against
Iraq if it does not meet the terms of the deal, we
are, however, concerned that the U.S. is threatening
to flout the UN resolution, thus seriously undermining
the world body and bringing into question its
relevance in world affairs. . . This shows that the
U.S. does not feel bound by UN resolutions, and we do
not think the world body would be in a position to
censure the
U.S. in the event of unsanctioned military
strikes. . . We believe the step taken by the
UN to force the U.S. into backtracking on the
threatened use of force against Baghdad is in
the right direction since it sends a clear
message to countries in the habit of meddling in
others' affairs that the world will not tolerate
that. . ."

SULLIVAN