[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

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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.