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DATE=  10/2/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-220757
TITLE=IRAQ INSPECTIONS (S & L)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  U-N OFFICIALS ARE REPORTING MORE TROUBLE FOR WEAPONS 
INPECTORS IN IRAQ.  BAGHDAD APPARENTLY BLOCKED THEIR ACCESS TO 
THREE SITES DURING THE PAST WEEK.  VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE 
JOHANSON HAS DETAILS:   
TEXT:  A U-N SPOKESMAN SAYS U-N CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD 
BUTLER HAS WARNED IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, TARIQ AZIZ, THAT 
HE WILL INCLUDE THE LATEST INCIDENTS IN HIS MID-OCTOBER REPORT TO
THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  IRAQ'S COOPERATION ON WEAPONS ISSUES IS 
LINKED TO U-N SANCTIONS.
THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS RULED THERE WILL BE NO EASING OF THE 
PUNITIVE MEASURES IMPOSED AFTER IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWAIT IN 1990
UNTIL IT IS SATISFIED THAT IRAQ NO LONGER HAS ANY POTENTIAL TO 
REBUILD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
THIS MOST RECENT STANDOFF IS SIMILAR TO DISPUTES LAST MONTH AND 
EARLIER IN JUNE WHEN IRAQ DECLARED CERTAIN SITES TOO SENSITIVE 
FOR INSPECTIONS.  THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION, HEADED BY MR. 
BUTLER, CONSISTENTLY REJECTS THAT ARGUMENT.
U-N OFFICIALS SAY TWO OF THE SITES ARE NORTH OF BAGHDAD -- AND 
ONE IS IN THE CITY.
                          //REST OPT//
MEANWHILE, IN THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER 
MOHAMMED SAID AL-SAHAF COMPLAINED IRAQ HAS BEEN SUFFERING UNDER 
WHAT HE CALLED AN "UNJUST BLOCKADE NEVER BEFORE WITNESSED IN 
HUMAN HISTORY."  THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER DENOUNCED THE UNITED 
STATES AND BRITAIN FOR PREVENTING MORE SYMPATHETIC COUNCIL 
MEMBERS FROM PUTTING AN END TO THE SANCTIONS.  HE SAID DESPITE 
RUMORS TO THE CONTRARY, IRAQ NO LONGER HAS PROHIBITED WEAPONS OR 
THE MATERIAL TO PRODUCE THEM.
THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION, HOWEVER, HAS TO PRESENT THE COUNCIL 
WITH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH ON IRAQ BEFORE ANY ACTION CAN BE 
TAKEN.  IN THE INTERIM, IRAQ IS ALLOWED TO SELL A LIMITED AMOUNT 
OF ITS OIL UNDER U-N SUPERVISION TO RAISE CASH FOR HUMANITARIAN 
PURCHASES. (SIGNED) 
NEB/EJ/RRM 
02-Oct-97 5:31 PM EDT (2131 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.