Press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater's briefing
on 21 February 1991¹

       Fitzwater: President Gorbachev called President Bush at 6:47 p.m. this evening to discuss his conversation with Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz. President Gorbachev outlined all of the major points of a Soviet initiative developed by himself and the foreign minister.

       President Bush thanked President Gorbachev for his intensive and useful efforts, but raised serious concerns about several points in the plan. President Bush said the United States will consult with its coalition partners on a proposal. We are in the process of examining the Soviet initiative tonight (February 21). The United States and its coalition partners continue to prosecute the war.

       That is the sum and substance of the situation that we have at this point. I'll try to answer a few questions.

       Question: Did President Gorbachev give any indication that once President Bush gave him these concerns that he was going to take those back to Aziz? And did he leave any hope that there may be some give on the part of Iraqis on those points the president raised?

       Answer: They didn't discuss follow-on procedures. President Bush did say that we should be examining these points tonight, and we will be considering then how we intend to respond. I would not expect anything - any response tonight - anything before tomorrow. But in terms, of what happens then, that really is contingent upon how we view the various points in this plan and what action needs to be taken at that time.

       Q: What are the concerns? What are the chief drawbacks as the administration would see it?

       A: Well, we don't want to go into the individual points. Of course, this plan was just announced by the Soviets a very short time ago. The telephone conversation lasted approximately 33 minutes. And although they did get a chance to go through the major points, we obviously have a considerable analysis to do.

       But I would emphasize again that as they went through the various points, President Bush did state the concerns that he felt the coalition would have on this matter, both in terms of points that are in the plan that we have problems with as well as issues that are not included. So there are a number of issues to resolve.

       Q: But this does hold up the ground war, doesn't it?

       A: The ground war is a matter that is still under consideration. The war itself continues. We will continue to seek compliance with the UN resolutions, and the president will make

1A. G. Noorani, The Gulf Wars, Documents and Analysis, Konark Publishers PVT LTD, Delhi, 1991, pp. 316-319.

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