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DATE=  11/7/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222333
TITLE=IRAQ/NEXT STEP (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: // RE-RUNNING W/ NUMBER // 
INTRO:  UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS ON THE 
VERGE OF SENDING THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS 
BACK TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  A SPOKESMAN SAYS MR. ANNAN IS 
CUTTING SHORT A VISIT TO SOUTH AMERICA BY ONE DAY -- RETURNING TO
NEW YORK LATE SUNDAY.  VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:
TEXT:  SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN PLANS TO MEET  WITH THE THREE 
ENVOYS HE HAD SENT TO BAGHDAD TO TRY TO PERSUADE IRAQ TO 
COOPERATE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.  ACCORDING TO U-N SPOKESMAN 
FRED ECKHARD, THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE KEY TO HOW THE SECURITY 
COUNCIL REACTS TO IRAQ'S CONTINUING REFUSAL TO LET AMERICANS TAKE
PART IN U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS:
                         //ECKHARD ACT//
         IT APPEARS THAT HIS OFFER OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLIMB 
         DOWN HAS BEEN REJECTED.  AND SO HE WILL DISCUSS WITH THE
         THREE ENVOYS ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING THEIR 
         APPROACH TO THE COUNCIL MONDAY AFTERNOON AND THE MATTER 
         WILL NOW GO TO THE COUNCIL.
                           //END ACT//
IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MNISTER TARIQ AZIZ HAS EXPRESSED A WISH TO BE
PRESENT IN NEW YORK FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING -- WHICH, AT LEAST ON
MONDAY, WILL BE HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SIGNALLED HIS UNHAPPINESS WITH IRAQ'S 
FAILURE TO YIELD TO DIPLOMACY IN A STATEMENT LATE THURSDAY FROM 
SANTIAGO, CHILE.  HE SAID HE WOULD DISCONTINUE HIS PERSONAL 
INTERVENTION IF IRAQ DID NOT RESPOND POSITIVELY. 
BY DECIDING TO SEND AN URGENT MISSION TO IRAQ, THE 
SECRETARY-GENERAL TOOK THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY OUT OF THE  HANDS OF
THE  COUNCIL  -- WHERE THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN, IN 
PARTICULAR,  WERE MOST ANXIOUS NOT TO LET SADDAM HUSSEIN GET AWAY
WITH YET ANOTHER SHOW OF DEFIANCE AGAINST U-N RESOLUTIONS.
THE ENVOYS ARE BRINGING BACK TO NEW YORK A LETTER FROM THE IRAQI 
GOVERNMENT.  BUT UNLESS IT CONTAINS SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT 
FROM WHAT MR. TARIQ AZIZ HAS ALREADY SAID PUBLICLY,  THE SECURITY
COUNCIL CAN BE EXPECTED TO FEEL PRESSURE TO ACT IN DEFENSE OF THE
SPECIAL COMMISSION IT CREATED IN 1991 TO RID IRAQ OF ITS WEAPONS 
OF MASS DESTRUCTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/EH 
07-Nov-97 1:29 PM EST (1829 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.