DATE=7/31/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-236326 TITLE=CHINA / U-N / IRAQ (L) BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO DATELINE=BEIJING CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE CHIEF UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTOR HAS WRAPPED UP TWO DAYS OF MEETINGS WITH CHINESE LEADERS IN BEIJING -- JUST A FEW DAYS BEFORE HE IS SCHEDULED TO GO TO IRAQ FOR A REVIEW OF THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION PROGRAM THERE. AS VOA'S STEPHANIE HO REPORTS, CHINA HAS CALLED FOR A SPEEDY END TO SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ. TEXT: IT COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT THE UNITED NATIONS IS CONSULTING CHINA, ONE OF THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL. NEWS REPORTS SAY U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER IS SEEKING CHINA'S SUPPORT FOR CONTINUING SANCTIONS ON IRAQ UNTIL HIS TEAM CAN ANSWER REMAINING QUESTIONS ABOUT BAGHDAD'S NUCLEAR AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM. BEIJING HAS URGED IRAQ TO COOPERATE WITH THE U-N INSPECTION TEAM. BUT CHINA HAS JOINED RUSSIA AND FRANCE IN CALLING FOR A SPEEDY CONCLUSION OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS AND AN END TO SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ AFTER THE 1990 GULF WAR. IN THE PAST, CHINA HAS DEFENDED IRAQ'S RIGHT TO LIMIT U-N ACCESS TO SOME SITES AND HAS OPPOSED THE USE OF FORCE TO COMPEL BAGHDAD TO AGREE TO REQUESTS BY MR. BUTLER'S INSPECTION TEAM. THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY CONFIRMED THAT THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR MET WITH VICE-PREMIER QIAN QICHEN IN BEIJING FRIDAY. // SPOKESMAN CHINESE ACT -- IN FULL, FADE OUT // A CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY OFFICIAL READ A PREPARED STATEMENT SAYING VICE-FOREIGN MINISTER WANG GUANGYA EXPRESSED CHINA'S POSITION ON THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION PROGRAM IN IRAQ, IN A MEETING WITH MR. BUTLER THURSDAY. THE CHINESE SPOKESMAN DID NOT ELABORATE. MR. BUTLER ARRIVED IN BEIJING LATE WEDNESDAY, AND IS DUE TO LEAVE SATURDAY FOR THE MIDDLE EAST. HE IS SCHEDULED TO VISIT IRAQ ON SUNDAY. AN IRAQI NEWSPAPER ON THURSDAY QUOTED IRAQI VICE-PRESIDENT, TAHA YASSIN RAMADAN, AS THREATENING UNSPECIFIED ACTION IF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL DOES NOT ACT QUICKLY TO REMOVE THE SANCTIONS. (SIGNED) NEB/HO/FC 31-Jul-98 7:15 AM EDT (1115 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
