WHAT LEADERS WERE SAYING

BRITAIN

“The war has been won; now we must set about establishing a durable peace.”

--Prime Minister John Major

SOVIET UNION

“We welcome the liberation of Kuwait and the restoration of its lawful government . . . For the first time the international community has shown unified will in the face of the seizure of one state by another.”

--Soviet Foreign Minister, Alexander Bessmertnykh

ISRAEL

“I have to say that I won’t feel that the war is over if Saddam Hussein stays on as president of Iraq.”

--Israeli President Chaim Herzog

‘Is the United States going to use the same zeal for implementing the U.N. resolutions on the Palestinian problem or not?”

--Faisal Husseini, a Palestinian leader in Israel

PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION

“Israel must be forced to withdraw rapidly from Palestinian and Arab occupied land and to apply all international resolutions including those that annul the annexation of Jerusalem and the (occupied Syrian) Golan Heights.”

--Bassam Abu Sharif, political adviser to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat

THE VATICAN

“The holy father learned with great satisfaction and relief the much-awaited news of the end of hostilities. His thoughts and his prayers are always with those--implicated on all sides--who have suffered most because of this war.

--Chief papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro Valls

GERMANY

“After the end of the military conflict, it is important now to achieve a lasting and just peace order for the Near and Middle East.”

--Chancellor Helmut Kohl

JAPAN

“It’s good news, and I’m really relieved.”

--Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu