    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [January 3, 1991]
    [Pages 3-4]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on a Proposed Meeting Between Foreign Minister Tariq `Aziz of
    Iraq and Secretary of State James A. Baker III
    January 3, 1991

        More than 1 month ago, on November 30, I proposed that Iraqi Foreign
    Minister `Aziz travel to Washington to meet with me late in the week of
    December 10, to be followed shortly thereafter by a trip to Baghdad by
    Secretary of State James Baker. I did so ``to go the extra mile for
    peace'' and to demonstrate our commitment to all aspects of U.N.
    Security Council Resolution 678, including its ``pause for goodwill,''
    designed to give Iraq one final opportunity to withdraw unconditionally
    from Kuwait on or before January 15.
        While I offered 15 days during which Secretary Baker was prepared to
    travel to Baghdad, including Christmas, Saddam Hussein showed himself to
    be more interested in manipulating my offer to his advantage

    [[Page 4]]

    than in a serious response. He was not too busy to see on short notice a
    wide range of individuals, including Kurt Waldheim, Willy Brandt,
    Muhammad Ali, Ted Heath, John Connally, and Ramsey Clark, but he was too
    busy to find even a few hours to meet with the Secretary of State of the
    United States. Today marks the last of the 15 dates we suggested, and
    that effort is therefore at an end.
        Secretary Baker is departing on January 6 for several days of close
    consultations with coalition partners as the UNSC date of January 15
    approaches. While I am not prepared to repeat my previous offer,
    rejected by Saddam Hussein, I am ready to make one last attempt to go
    the extra mile for peace. I have therefore offered through CDA Joe
    Wilson in Baghdad to have Secretary Baker meet with Iraqi Foreign
    Minister `Aziz in Switzerland during the period January 7-9, while he is
    traveling on his consultations.
        This offer is being made subject to the same conditions as my
    previous attempt: no negotiations, no compromises, no attempts at face-
    saving, and no rewards for aggression. What there will be if Iraq
    accepts this offer is simply and importantly an opportunity to resolve
    this crisis peacefully.

                        Note: This statement referred to President Saddam
                            Hussein of Iraq; President Kurt Waldheim of
                            Austria; Willy Brandt, former Chancellor of the
                            Federal Republic of Germany; Muhammad Ali,
                            former world heavyweight boxing champion; Edward
                            Heath, former Prime Minister of the United
                            Kingdom; John B. Connally, former Secretary of
                            the Treasury; Ramsey Clark, former Attorney
                            General; and Joseph C. Wilson IV, Charge
                            d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.