DATE=12/24/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-224503 TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / RUSSIAN PLANE (S - ONLY) BYLINE=MAX RUSTON DATELINE=NEW YORK CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID IT WILL PERMIT A RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT -- CARRYING MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND 23 MEMBERS OF THE RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT -- TO FLY TO IRAQ, DESPITE SANCTIONS BARRING SUCH FLIGHTS. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM NEW YORK. TEXT: THE U-N APPROVAL OPENS THE WAY FOR THE RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT, NOW HELD AT AN AIRPORT IN IRAN, TO DEPART FOR IRAQ, WITHOUT VIOLATING INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS. THE FLIGHT WAS ORGANIZED BY RUSSIAN NATIONALIST VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY TO SHOW HIS SOLIDARITY WITH IRAQ. RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES SAY CHILDREN'S MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND NEARLY TWO DOZEN RUSSIAN PARLIAMENT MEMBERS ARE ON THE AIRCRAFT. BUT THE AIRCRAFT WAS STOPPED IN IRAN ON ITS WAY TO IRAQ FROM RUSSIA. A UNITED NATIONS SPOKESMAN THANKED IRAN FOR REFUSING TO ALLOW THE FLIGHT PERMISSION TO CONTINUE UNTIL U-N APPROVAL WAS GRANTED. THE UNITED NATIONS IMPOSED AN EMBARGO ON INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO IRAQ IN 1990 AFTER IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWAIT. (SIGNED) NEB/NY/MPR/LSF/MGB 24-Dec-97 12:51 PM EST (1751 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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