DATE= 10/16/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-221347
TITLE=IRAQ / NUKES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY --
HANS BLIX -- REPORTED TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL THURSDAY THAT
HE SEES NO SIGNS OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITY IN IRAQ. AT THE SAME TIME,
DIRECTOR-GENERAL BLIX SAID THE NUCLEAR BOOK ON IRAQ REMAINS OPEN
-- WHICH INDICATES SOME DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT IRAQ'S
NUCLEAR INTENTIONS. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS.
TEXT: IF THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR ABSOLUTES ABOUT
IRAQ'S NUCLEAR CAPABILITY, DIRECTOR-GENERAL HANS BLIX SAYS NO
SUCH THING EXISTS. HE SAYS HE BELIEVES IRAQ TODAY IS INCAPABLE
OF LAUNCHING NUCLEAR ATTACKS ON ITS NEIGHBORS. HE SAYS THE
ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY HAS DESTROYED EVERYTHING IT FOUND RELATED TO
PAST NUCLEAR PROGRAMS IN IRAQ AND CONTINUES TO MONITOR THE
COUNTRY.
BUT MR. BLIX CAUTIONS THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBLITY THAT SOME
ITEMS HAVE BEEN CONCEALED -- SUCH AS COMPONENTS OF CENTRIFUGE
MACHINES THAT ENRICH URANIUM USED IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS. APPARENTLY
THAT WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT.
THE QUESTION NOW SEEMS TO BE POLITICAL. MR. BLIX SAYS IT WOULD
BE UP TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO DETERMINE WHAT LEVEL OF
UNCERTAINTY IT CAN LIVE WITH.
//BLIX ACT//
WE DO NOT SEE ANY INDICATION OF ANY ILL HEALTH OR ANY
NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES. THAT'S ALL WE CAN SAY. I MEAN, IN
OUR REPORTS TO OUR BOARD OF GOVERNORS ABOUT THE
SAFEGUARDS AROUND THE WORLD, WE DO NOT SAY THERE IS
NOTHING. WE SAY AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, WE HAVE
NOT FOUND ANYTHING. AND IT IS THEN FOR THE GOVERNMENTS
TO DECIDE WILL THEY RELY UPON THAT. THAT IS NOT A
TECHNICAL JUDGMENT.
//END ACT//
CRITICS HAVE LONG ARUGED THAT ALMOST EVERYTHING THE SECURITY
COUNCIL DECIDES ABOUT IRAQ AT THIS POINT IS POLITICAL BECAUSE OF
THE UNITED STATES. THEY BELIEVE WASHINGTON IS DETERMINED TO
KEEP PRESSURE ON BAGHDAD AS LONG AS SADDAM HUSSEIN REMAINS IN
POWER. IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER U-N SANCTIONS, INCLUDING A STRICT
TRADE EMBARGO, SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990.
BUT U-S OFFICIALS ARGUE IT IS BAGHDAD'S CALL TO MAKE. A NEW
REPORT BY THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION CHARGED WITH TRACKING AND
ELIMINATING IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION DETAILS A SERIES
OF BLOCKED INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ SINCE JUNE AND SAYS IRAQ HAS STILL
NOT SUBMITTED FULL INFORMATION ON ITS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
//REST OPT//
THE UNITED STATES, BACKED BY BRITAIN, HAS DRAWN UP A RESOLUTION
-- WHICH IT HOPES TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL NEXT WEEK -- PUTTING
NEW TRAVEL SANCTIONS ON THE IRAQI MILITARY AND PEOPLE CONNECTED
WITH IRAQ'S MILITARY INDUSTRIES. FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE
LESS INCLINED TO PUNISH IRAQ FURTHER -- AND MORE DEBATE ON THE
NEW MEASURES IS LIKELY. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/RRM
16-Oct-97 2:23 PM EDT (1823 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
