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SE X1 U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation In Reply, Please Refer to Baghdad Operations Center File No. March 5, 2004 DECLASSIFIED BY uc/baw 60324 ON 05-20-2009 Interview Session Number: 12 Interview Conducted by: SSA _ SSA be SSA bIC Arabic/English Translation: LS ref Saddam Hussein (High Value Detainee #1) was interviewed March 5, 2004 at a military detention facility at Baghdad International Airport (BIAP), Baghdad, Iraq. Hussein provided the following information: oa Prior to the start of interview, Hussein was informed this session would be a continuation of the previous discussions regarding Kuwait. ps Hussein acknowledged that Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz met with US Secretary of State James Baker in Geneva, Switzerland in January, 1991. From the perspective of the Iraqi leadership, the goal of this meeting was to exploit any chance for peace regarding the situation with Kuwait. When the opportunity was made available to discuss this matter with an American representative, Irag decided to pursue this avenue. The Iraqi leadership believed that any results from this meeting would "carry weight" in the international community. #8) According to Hussein, Baker provided no solutions for the Kuwaiti situation. Instead, Baker dictated to Aziz certain steps that the United States wanted Iraq to accomplish first. Baker added, "Otherwise, we'll take you back to the pre- industrial age." Aziz told Baker that the accomplishment of these steps would not be possible. PS Hussein stated that the Kuwaiti issue needed to have been placed inside the framework of international law. This Matter should not have been reduced to one in which the strong side (United States) dictated to the weak side (Iraq) the terms of the agreement. Iraq sought a format which did not portray it as defeated, but rather one showing respect for the Iraqi military and its people. Ss This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. It is the property of the FBI and is loaned to your agency; it and its contents are not to be distributed outside your agency. a's 1 ne