DATE=1/11/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-244016 TITLE=RUSSIA/IRAQ (S ONLY) BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN DATELINE=MOSCOW CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA IS CALLING ON THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS THAT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN IRAQ SPIED FOR THE UNITED STATES. MORE FROM V-O-A MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT PETER HEINLEIN. TEXT: A RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN SAYS CONFIRMATION OF THE SPYING REPORTS WOULD DEAL A SERIOUS BLOW TO THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION'S REPUTATION FOR OBJECTIVITY. SPOKESMAN VLADIMIR RAKHMANIN REPEATED MOSCOW'S DEMAND THAT CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR, RICHARD BUTLER, BE FORCED TO STEP DOWN. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV PREVIOUSLY CALLED FOR MR. BUTLER'S FIRING, SAYING THE U-N OFFICIAL PROVOKED THE RECENT AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQI TARGETS. LAST WEEK, SEVERAL LEADING NEWSPAPERS CARRIED REPORTS DETAILING A SURVEILLANCE OPERATION THAT ALLOWED WASHINGTON TO EAVESDROP ON IRAQ'S MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. U-N COMMISSION OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THEIR PRIMARY ROLE WAS TO MONITOR COMPLIANCE WITH U-N SANCTIONS. BUT ONE OFFICIAL WAS QUOTED AS SAYING IT WOULD BE NAIVE TO THINK THE WORLD BODY HAD NOT BEEN USED FOR COVERT ACTIVITIES. (SIGNED) NEB/PFH/PCF/JO 11-Jan-99 10:30 AM EST (1530 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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