DATE= 11/10/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222443
TITLE=IRAQ/DIPLOMACY (L)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
//ADDS COMMENTS BY TARIQ AZIZ//
INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS IRAQ
REMAINS FIRM ON ITS DEMAND FOR EXPELLING AMERICANS ATTACHED TO
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAMS. MR. ANNAN MET TODAY (MONDAY) WITH
VISITING DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ WHO HE HAD HOPED WOULD
BRING A NEW MESSAGE OF FLEXIBILITY FROM BAGHDAD. V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:
TEXT: THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS HE IS NOT GIVING UP HOPE. HE
SAYS MR. TARIQ AZIZ MAY NOT HAVE COME TO NEW YORK WITH ANYTHING
NEW. BUT THE STALEMATE, HE SAYS, MIGHT STILL BE BROKEN:
//ANNAN ACT//
HE DID NOT GIVE ME THE ANSWER I HAD HOPED FOR IN
BAGHDAD. HE HASN'T GIVEN IT TO ME YET. BUT I HOPE
ALL IS NOT LOST -- THAT THERE COULD BE SOME ROOM FOR
MANEUVER, AND THAT IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO WE WILL HAVE
THE RIGHT DECISIONS TAKEN.
//END ACT//
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SENT THREE ENVOYS TO BAGHDAD LAST WEEK.
THEY FAILED TO MOVE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT. MR. ANNAN HAS NOW
PULLED BACK HIS PERSONAL INTERVENTION AND GIVEN THE ISSUE BACK TO
THE SECURITY COUNCIL.
MEANWHILE, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ MET WITH THE
PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, CHINA'S U-N AMBASSADOR -- AND
SEPARATELY WITH RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SERGEI LAVROV, WHOM HE CALLED
HIS VERY GOOD FRIEND. RUSSIA, AS WELL AS FRANCE, HAS BEEN
SYMPATHETIC TO EASING THE SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER IRAQ'S INVASION
OF KUWAIT. THEY HAVE ALSO SPOKEN OUT AGAINST MILITARY ACTION
AGAINST IRAQ IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
MR. TARIQ AZIZ HAS ASKED FOR A HEARING IN FRONT OF THE FULL
COUNCIL TO EXPRESS IRAQ'S GRIEVANCES:
//AZIZ ACT//
GIVE US A CHANCE. GIVE US A CHANCE BEFORE STAMPEDING
ANOTHER UNJUST RESOLUTION AGAINST IRAQ. GIVE US A
CHANCE, A FIRM CHANCE TO TALK TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.
//END ACT//
AS FOR THE AMERICANS LOOKING FOR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION --
MR. TARIQ AZIZ SAYS BAGHDAD'S DECISION TO BAN THE AMERICANS IS
NOT PERSONAL:
//TARIQ AZIZ ACT//
WE HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE AMERICANS AS INDIVIDUALS.
WE HAVE NOTHING AGAINST AMERICANS AS A NATIONALITY. WE
ARE PROTECTING OURSELVES AGAINST THE MISBEHAVIOR OF
THOSE AMERICANS WORKING UNDER THE HEAD OF THE UNITED
NATIONS BUT ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THE POLICIES BY THE
PENTAGON, THE C-I-A AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
//END ACT//
FOR THE MOMENT, THE AMERICANS ARE STILL OUT -- STILL UNDER AN
EXPULSION ORDER, WHILE DIPLOMACY CONTINUES IN NEW YORK. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/MMK
10-Nov-97 1:44 PM EST (1844 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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