DATE=12/23/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-224460 TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L ONLY) BYLINE=JESSICA JONES DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: IRAQ HAS ACCUSED THE UNITED STATES OF BLACKMAILING THE UNITED NATIONS INTO CRITICIZING IRAQ FOR ITS FAILURE TO ALLOW FULL ACCESS TO U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS. JESSICA JONES REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU. TEXT: IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, TARIQ AZIZ, TOLD THE OFFICIAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY (TUESDAY) THAT A STATEMENT MONDAY BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL -- IN HIS WORDS-- "REFLECTS THE BLACKMAIL PRACTICED BY AMERICA TO FORCE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT UNBALANCED AND UNOBJECTIVE STANDS." MR. AZIZ ALSO DISPUTED THE U-N CLAIM THAT IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL PALACES MAY BE USED TO SHELTER INFORMATION ON BANNED WEAPONS PROGRAMS. HE SAID THE UNITED NATIONS IS FOCUSING ON WHAT HE CALLED "TRIVIAL MATTERS." ON MONDAY, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL SAID IRAQ'S FAILURE TO GRANT IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCESS TO ANY WEAPONS SITE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND A VIOLATION OF U-N RESOLUTIONS. THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DEMANDED THAT ITS WEAPONS INSPECTORS BE ALLOWED TO SEARCH PRESIDENTIAL PALACES FOR INFORMATION ON IRAQI WEAPONS PROGRAMS. BUT IRAQ SAYS THE PALACES ARE SYMBOLS OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY THAT CANNOT BE OPEN TO OUTSIDE SCRUTINY. U-N INSPECTORS ARE IN IRAQ TO VERIFY THAT THE COUNTRY HAS DISMANTLED ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE U-N SAYS THE SANCTIONS WILL NOT BE ENDED UNTIL IRAQ COMPLIES WITH THE U-N DEMANDS. IN THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THE SANCTIONS, THE U-N ALLOWS IRAQ TO SELL LIMITED AMOUNTS OF OIL IN EXCHANGE FOR FOOD, MEDICINE, AND HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES. THE THIRD PHASE OF THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PLAN IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AS SOON AS U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN GIVES HIS FINAL APPROVAL. (SIGNED) NEB/JJ/JWH 23-Dec-97 10:13 AM EST (1513 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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