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| Identifier: | 88ROME19700 |
|---|---|
| Wikileaks: | View 88ROME19700 at Wikileaks.org |
| Origin: | Embassy Rome |
| Created: | 1988-08-25 17:03:00 |
| Classification: | UNCLASSIFIED |
| Tags: | PREL IR IZ IT |
| Redacted: | This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks. |
R 251703Z AUG 88 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3560 INFO GULF WAR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ROME 19700
E.O. 12356: N/A
TAGS: PREL IR IZ IT
SUBJECT: GUILT FOR THE GULF WAR: IRAQ PAYS FOR AD TO
GIVE ITS SIDE
1. THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT PAID FOR A HALF-PAGE
ADVERTISEMENT WHICH APPEARED IN THE AUGUST 25 ISSUE OF
ROME'S CENTRIST "IL MESSAGGERO." ENTITLED "IRAN-IRAQ:
WHO STARTED THE WAR," THE IRAQI AD DETAILS "A SERIES
OF (IRANIAN) VIOLATIONS AND MILITARY AGGRESSIONS"
AGAINST IRAQ IN 1979 AND 1980, LEADING UP TO SEPTEMBER
22, 1980, WHEN IRAQ "WAS FORCED TO EXERCISE ITS RIGHT
TO LEGITIMATE DEFENSE." THE IRAQI STATEMENT STRESSES
THAT, DESPITE IRAQ'S "FAVORABLE ACCEPTANCE" OF
KHOMEINI'S REGIME, IRAN "CLAIMED" ITS RIGHT TO
"EXPORT" THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION "WITH THE USE OF
FORCE," SELECTING IRAQ AS ITS FIRST TARGET. IRAN, THE
IRAQIS CLAIM, "INSTIGATED" CIVIL UNREST IN IRAQ,
HOSTED AND AIDED BARZANI'S IRAQI-KURDISH OPPOSITION
GROUP, UNILATERALLY BACKED OUT OF THE IRAN/IRAQ 1975
ACCORD ON THE SHATT-EL-ARAB, AND CARRIED OUT A SERIES
OF ATTACKS AGAINST IRAQI TERRITORY.
2. COMMENT: WITH THE DIRECT TALKS BETWEEN IRAN AND
IRAQ SET TO GET UNDERWAY IN GENEVA IT LOOKS LIKE THE
IRAQIS ARE AT LAST TRYING TO PUT OUT THEIR SIDE OF THE
STORY ON THE WAR'S ORIGINS.
RABB
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