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June 26, 2000

JOINT STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE AND LEADERS OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS

                              THE WHITE HOUSE
                       Office of the Vice President
  _______________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                              Contact:
Monday, June 26, 2000                              (202) 456-7035
                 JOINT STATEMENT BY VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE
                AND LEADERS OF THE IRAQI NATIONAL CONGRESS
     The Vice President met with senior leaders of the Iraqi National
Congress today to review the agenda of work between the United States
Government and the Iraqi National Congress.
     The INC and the Vice President reaffirmed their joint desire to see a
united Iraq served by a representative and democratic government responsive
to the needs of its people and willing to live in peace with its neighbors.
     The Vice President reaffirmed the Administration?s strong commitment
to the objective of removing Saddam Hussein from power, and to bringing him
and his inner circle to justice for their war crimes and crimes against
humanity.  Saddam?s removal is the key to the positive transformation of
Iraq?s relationship with the international community and with the United
States, in particular.
     The United States views the INC as an authoritative and representative
voice for the people of Iraq in their struggle to free themselves from the
tyranny of Saddam Hussein.  In particular, both sides discussed measures by
which the INC could improve their ability to represent the will of the
Iraqi people both inside Iraq and on the world stage.
     The INC and the Vice President discussed the methods by which the INC
could make the most effective use of assistance available under the
authorities of the Iraq Liberation Act and related legislation.  Both sides
committed themselves to finding ways to speed the absorption of that
assistance in support of the expressed objective of strengthening the INC?s
ability to project the voice of the Iraqi people.
     The Vice President welcomed the commitment from the Kurdish leaders to
the cause of Iraqi national liberation and to advance the reconciliation
between their two parties.  Their success of will once again demonstrate
the Iraqi people?s ability to conduct their own affairs and to preserve
Iraq?s national unity and territorial integrity in freedom.
     The INC proposed ways to ease the burden of sanctions from the Iraqi
people.  The Vice President reaffirmed American concern for the welfare of
the Iraqi people.  In this context, he reiterated US support to expand the
oil-for-food program and to streamline the contract approval process as
provided in UNSCR 1284.  He further emphasized the US concern for the
safety and security of all the Iraqi people in accordance with UNSCR 688,
which condemns Saddam Hussein?s repression of the Iraqi people as a threat
to regional stability.
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