DATE= 11/3/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222092
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N TEAM ALTERNATE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A THREE-MAN DELEGATION FROM THE UNITED NATIONS IS
EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN BAGHDAD LATE TUESDAY --PERHAPS EARLY
WEDNESDAY -- TO TRY TO DEFUSE THE LATEST CRISIS OVER U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN PROPOSED THE MISSION,
EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A VERY TENSE AND
DANGEROUS SITUATION. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON
REPORTS.
TEXT: CALLING THE SITUATION IN IRAQ TENSE AND DANGEROUS IS
ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING U-N OFFICIALS FEAR THE STAND-OFF COULD LEAD
TO MILITARY ACTION. THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT RULED OUT ANYTHING
IF IRAQ PERSISTS IN EXPELLING AMERICANS ATTACHED TO THE
INSPECTION TEAMS.
THE DELEGATION LEADER IS LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, A FORMER FOREIGN
MINISTER OF ALGERIA. HE WILL BE JOINED BY EMILIO CARDENAS OF
ARGENTINA, A FORMER U-N AMBASSADOR, AND JAN ELIASSON OF SWEDEN --
THE FORMER HEAD OF THE U-N DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS.
AMBASSADORS BRAHIMI AND CARDENAS ARE LEAVING FROM NEW YORK FOR
GENEVA, WHERE THE SWEDISH DIPLOMAT IS AWAITING THEIR ARRIVAL.
THEY WILL THEN DEPART FOR BAGHDAD.
U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS THIS IS NOT A NEGOTIATING TEAM.
THEIR MANDATE IS TO PERSUADE SADDAM HUSSEIN TO BACK OFF AND ALLOW
THE INSPECTIONS TO CONTINUE WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE
AMERICANS.
//ECKHARD ACT//
THERE'S NOTHING TO NEGOTIATE. ANY SENSE THAT THE
SECURITY COUNCIL IS DIVIDED ON THIS ISSUE HAS NOW BEEN
DISPELLED AND THE NEXT STEP IS UP TO IRAQ. AND THIS
MISSION IS LOOKING TO FACILITATE THAT NEXT STEP.
//END ACT//
THERE IS SOME THOUGHT HERE THAT IRAQ MAY HAVE BEEN RELYING ON THE
CONTINUED SUPPORT OF FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA -- THREE PERMANENT
MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL WHO RECENTLY BLOCKED EFFORTS BY
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN TO IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS ON BAGHDAD.
IF THAT'S THE CASE, U-N OFFICIALS AND DIPLOMATS HAVE BEEN QUICK
TO CALL IT A MISCALCULATION. SECURITY COUNCIL BACKING FOR THE
SPECIAL COMMISSION CHARGED WITH ELIMINATING BANNED WEAPONS IN
IRAQ HAS REMAINED UNIFIED.
//REST OPT//
SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CALL FOR A DIALOGUE GAVE THE UNITED NATIONS AN
OPENING. U-N OFFICIALS ARE NOW HOPEFUL THEY CAN RESOLVE THE
CRISIS PEACEFULLY. BUT THE BOTTOM-LINE IS THERE CAN BE NO
COMPROMISE ON THE COMPOSITION OF U-N INSPECTION TEAMS. THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION, RICHARD BUTLER, SAYS THE
HANDFUL OF AMERICANS INVOLVED HAVE VALUABLE EXPERTISE REQUIRED TO
DO A THOROUGH JOB.
THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO REMAIN IN
EXISTENCE FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS WHEN IT WAS SET UP IN 1991. BUT
U-N OFFICIALS SAY IT SOON BECAME CLEAR THAT IRAQ'S COOPERATION
WOULD BE SPORADIC AND THE STAFF BECAME PERMANENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/RRM
03-Nov-97 1:25 PM EST (1825 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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