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DATE=  11/21/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223049
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
 DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS RETURNED TO IRAQ FRIDAY
AFTER A TENSE, THREE-WEEK CONFRONTATION BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND THE 
U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.  BUT AS V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT 
DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS, THE UNITED STATES INTENDS TO MAINTAIN A 
REINFORCED MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE GULF REGION UNTIL IRAQ HAS 
COMPLIED WITH U-N DEMANDS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ITS WEAPONS OF 
MASS DESTRUCTION.
TEXT:  A CONTINGENT OF MORE THAN 70 WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARRIVED IN
BAGHDAD EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON, ON A U-N FLIGHT FROM THE GULF 
STATE OF BAHRAIN.
THE U-N TEAM INCLUDES UNITED STATES CITIZENS EXPELLED BY IRAQI  
AUTHORITIES LAST WEEK.  THE REMAINING U-N INSPECTORS WERE 
SUBSEQUENTLY WITHDRAWN IN PROTEST OVER THE IRAQI MOVE.
BAGHDAD RESCINDED THE EXPULSION ORDER AFTER MEDIATION EFFORTS BY 
THE  RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.  MOSCOW HAS PLEDGED TO PUSH FOR A SPEEDY
END TO THE U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ AFTER ITS 1990 
INVASION OF KUWAIT.
RUSSIA ALSO ASSURED IRAQ THAT STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO ENHANCE THE 
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE U-N COMMISSION, CHARGED WITH VERIFYING THE 
ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, 
AS WELL AS THE DESTRUCTION OF ITS LONG RANGE MISSILES.
THE STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA IN BAGHDAD HAVE PROCLAIMED THE RUSSIAN
INITIATIVE A VICTORY FOR IRAQ, IN WHAT WAS TERMED ITS GREAT 
BATTLE WITH AMERICA.
BUT IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ ACKNOWLEDGED, AT A 
NEWS  CONFERENCE HERE IN CAIRO THURSDAY, THAT BAGHDAD WON  NO  
SPECIFIC CONCESSIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR ITS DECISION TO ALLOW THE 
INSPECTORS TO RETURN.
THE U-N TEAM NOW BACK IN BAGHDAD IS EXPECTED TO RESUME 
INSPECTIONS AT IRAQI WEAPONS SITES OVER THE WEEKEND.  U-N 
OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE EXPERTS WILL BE CONCENTRATING ON IRAQ'S 
EFFORTS TO PRODUCE BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS, INCLUDING THE
MUSTARD GAS IRAQI FORCES USED REPEATEDLY DURING ITS EIGHT YEAR 
WAR AGAINST IRAN.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT INSISTS IT  NO  LONGER POSSESSES WEAPONS OF 
MASS DESTRUCTION.  BUT THE U-N AND MOST WESTERN GOVERNMENTS 
DISPUTE THIS.
THEIR SUSPICIONS WERE REINFORCED WHEN IRAQI AUTHORITIES REMOVED 
EQUIPMENT FROM SOME WEAPONS SITES AND TAMPERED WITH U-N 
SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS DURING THE THREE WEEK CRISIS, WHEN  NO  
INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT.
DESPITE BAGHDAD'S DECISION TO RE-ADMIT THE U-N TEAM, THE UNITED 
STATES MILITARY BUILD-UP IN THE PERSIAN GULF CONTINUES.
THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER GEORGE WASHINGTON ENTERED THE GULF EARLY 
FRIDAY, JOINING ANOTHER CARRIER BATTLE GROUP.  AND MORE AMERICAN 
WARPLANES ARRIVED IN KUWAIT.
U-S OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE ADDITIONAL FORCES WILL REMAIN IN THE 
REGION UNTIL IRAQ HAS COMPLIED WITH U-N DEMANDS.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/DBR/JWH/EH
21-Nov-97 9:54 AM EST (1454 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.