DATE= 11/20/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222952
TITLE=ALBRIGHT / GENEVA UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, FRANCE
AND RUSSIA AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CHINA HAVE AGREED THAT IRAQ
SHOULD ALLOW THE RETURN OF UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS. RON
PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA, SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE
ALBRIGHT ISCAUTIOUS.
TEXT: IN A POST-MIDNIGHT MEETING AT THE EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS OF
THE UNITED NATIONS, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER YEVGENY PRIMAKOV
TOLD HIS FELLOW MINISTERS THAT IRAQ WILL AGREE TO ALLOW THE
UNITED NATIONS INSPECTORS TO RETURN UNCONDITIONALLY. SECRETARY OF
STATE ALBRIGHT RETAINS HER SKEPTICISM.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
WE LISTENED TO FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV REPORT ON HIS
CONVERSATIONS WITH IRAQIS AND AS A RESULT OF THOSE,
EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THEY WOULD IN FACT ANNOUNCE A
REVERSAL OF THE DECISION TOMORROW MORNING, WE HAVE NOT
YET SEEN WHETHER THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS GOING TO HAPPEN OR
IF THEY WILL IN FACT REVERSE, SO WE ARE NOW WATCHING TO
SEE THE REVERSAL AND THEN THE PROVEN FACT THAT THE
INSPECTORS WHO HAVE BEEN KEPT OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR
ALMOST THREE WEEKS, OR HAVE BEEN KEPT FROM THEIR WORK
FOR ALMOST THREE WEEKS, WILL BE ABLE TO RESUME THEIR
WORK.
///END ACT///
THE SECRETARY OF STATE TELLS REPORTERS THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF
SANCTIONS RELIEF FOR IRAQ IN THE TWO HOUR MEETING. ALL MINISTERS
EXPRESS THE HOPE THAT IRAQ'S DECISION TO ALLOW THE INSPECTORS TO
RETURN WILL BE UNCONDITIONAL.
A SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL SAYS IN THE PAST, THE IRAQIS HAVE
FREQUENTLY REVERSED COURSE WHEN FACED WITH A UNIFIED U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL. HOWEVER, THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION HAS LOST
THREE WEEKS OF INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. THE COMMISSION WILL MEET
FRIDAY IN NEW YORK TO DISCUSS HOW TO MAKE ITS WORK MORE
EFFECTIVE.
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT RAISES THE POSSIBILITY SOME
ADJUSTMENTS CAN BE MADE IN THE SIZE OF THE INSPECTION TEAM.
///ALBRIGHT ACT///
I THINK THAT THERE WILL BE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHETHER
MORE INSPECTORS SHOULD BE ADDED AND HOW IT SHOULD WORK
BUT AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED WE BELIEVE THAT UNSCOM
IS WORKING EFFECTIVELY, THAT IT DOES ITS JOB AND IT
NEEDS TO GET BACK ON THE GROUND WORKING.
///END ACT///
ONE OF THOSE POSSIBILITIES WILL BE INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE
TEAMS BUT POSSIBLY REDUCING THE PERCENTAGE OF THE AMERICANS ON
THEM. IRAQ ORIGINALLY EXPELLED THE AMERICANS FROM THE INSPECTION
TEAMS, CHARGING THE UNITED STATES WITH BIAS AGAINST BAGHDAD. THE
COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BUTLER HAS SAID IRAQ CANNOT DICTATE
THE COMPOSITION OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS. (SIGNED)
NEB/RP/KL
20-Nov-97 1:26 AM EST (0626 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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