DATE= 11/20/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222993
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L UPDATE)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
///// EDS: UPDATES CR 2-222963, WITH AZIZ COMMENTS. /////
INTRO: THE TENSE, THREE-WEEK-OLD CONFRONTATION BETWEEN IRAQ AND
THE UNITED NATIONS APPARENTLY MOVED TOWARD RESOLUTION THURSDAY.
V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS THE
BREAKTHROUGH CAME AFTER RUSSIA PERSUADED IRAQ TO RESCIND ITS
DECISION EXPELLING AMERICAN MEMBERS OF THE U-N WEAPONS
COMMISSION.
TEXT: THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS CONTAINED IN A JOINT COMMUNIQUE FROM
THE IRAQI AND RUSSIAN GOVERNMENTS, BROADCAST THURSDAY BY BAGHDAD
RADIO.
IT FOLLOWED LENGTHY TALKS IN MOSCOW BETWEEN FOREIGN MINISTER
YEVGENY PRIMAKOV AND IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ.
MR. PRIMAKOV BRIEFED HIS COUNTERPARTS FROM THE UNITED STATES,
BRITAIN, AND FRANCE AT A HASTILY-ARRANGED MEETING IN GENEVA, JUST
HOURS BEFORE THURSDAY'S IRAQI ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE COMMUNIQUE SAYS IRAQ HAS AGREED TO THE IMMEDIATE RETURN OF
THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS, INCLUDING THE AMERICAN INSPECTORS
EXPELLED BY IRAQ LAST WEEK.
IT SAYS STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE
WEAPONS COMMISSION, ON THE BASIS OF RESPECT FOR IRAQ'S
SOVEREIGNTY AND SECURITY. IT ALSO SAYS RUSSIA WILL WORK FOR A
SPEEDY END TO THE U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ
SEVEN-YEARS AGO AFTER ITS INVASION OF NEIGHBORING KUWAIT.
BAGHDAD IS PORTRAYING THE ANNOUNCEMENT AS A MAJOR VICTORY. STATE
RADIO AND TELEVISION INTERRUPTED REGULAR PROGRAMMING WITH
BROADCASTS OF PATRIOTIC MUSIC. THE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZED
CELEBRATIONS OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT.
BUT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AZIZ ACKNOWLEDGED IRAQ DID NOT WIN ANY
SPECIFIC CONCESSIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR ALLOWING THE WEAPONS
INSPECTORS TO RETURN. THE IRAQI ENVOY FLEW THURSDAY TO CAIRO TO
BRIEF EGYPTIAN AND ARAB LEAGUE OFFICIALS.
AT A NEWS CONFERENCE AT THE LEAGUE'S NILE-SIDE HEADQUARTERS, MR.
AZIZ SAID THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT SYMPATHIZES WITH IRAQ'S CONCERNS
AND GRIEVANCES ABOUT THE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS AND THE CONTINUING
SANCTIONS. HE SAID THERE WAS NO DEAL IN MOSCOW, BUT ADDED IRAQ
IS READY FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION.
MR. AZIZ ALSO SAID DURING THE CRISIS BAGHDAD SUCCEEDED IN DRAWING
WORLDWIDE ATTENTION TO THE SUFFERING OF THE IRAQI PEOPLE.
IRAQI OFFICIALS MAINTAIN THE SANCTIONS SHOULD BE ENDED BECAUSE
BAGHDAD HAS COMPLIED WITH ALL OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL'S
DEMANDS, INCLUDING THE ELIMINATION OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION.
BUT U-N OFFICIALS, AND MOST WESTERN GOVERNMENTS, SAY THAT CLAIM
IS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE ARMS INSPECTORS WILL RETURN TO BAGHDAD
SOMETIME FRIDAY. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO RESUME THEIR VISITS TO
IRAQI WEAPONS SITES OVER THE WEEK-END. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/JWH/RAE
20-Nov-97 11:19 AM EST (1619 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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