DATE= 11/21/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223066
TITLE=IRAQ/U-N MEETING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN ADVISORY BOARD OF THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL
COMMISSION RESPONSIBLE FOR DISARMING IRAQ IS MEETING BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS TODAY (FRI) IN EMERGENCY SESSION TO DISCUSS VARIOUS
ASPECTS OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. AFTER A THREE-WEEK STAND-OFF
OVER THE PARTICIPATION OF AMERICANS, THE INSPECTORS -- INCLUDING
THE AMERICANS -- WENT BACK TO IRAQ TODAY TO RESUME THEIR WORK.
VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:
TEXT: FIFTEEN OF THE 20 COMMISSIONERS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
ADVISORY BOARD WERE ABLE TO MAKE THIS EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE
SPECIAL COMMISSION. NONE OF THEM WOULD SPEAK TO THE PRESS DURING
A MID-DAY BREAK. COMMISSION CHAIRMAN RICHARD BUTLER STOOD ON
PROTOCOL, SAYING IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT AT THIS
POINT:
//BUTLER ACT//
NO, NO NO, NO...IT'S QUITE INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME TO SAY
ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE UNTIL THIS MEETING IS FINISHED AND
WE'VE GONE TO THE (SECURITY) COUNCIL. JUST THAT THE
MEETING IS GOING WELL. WE'RE DOWN INTO DETAIL NOW AND
I'M PLEASED WITH THE WAY WE'RE GOING. OKAY?
//END ACT//
MOST SECURITY COUNCIL DIPLOMATS ARE UNCLEAR WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS
WILL BE COMING OUT OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING. THE
RUSSIANS, FOR SURE, ARE HOPING AMBASSADOR BUTLER'S GROUP WILL
SUGGEST EXPANDING THE INSPECTION TEAMS TO INCLUDE
REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE COUNTRIES. RUSSIA APPARENTLY PROMISED
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DURING ITS DIPLOMATIC PUSH THIS WEEK TO END
THE CRISIS THAT IT WOULD PRESS THE ISSUE.
IRAQ SEEMS TO BELIEVE AMERICAN INFLUENCE IN THE SPECIAL
COMMISSION WOULD BE DILUTED IF IT WERE SUBMERGED WITHIN A BROADER
INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT.
BUT THE UNITED STATES IS WARY OF PLAYING WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE
"NATIONALITY CARD". U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON SAYS THE
STAKES OF DISARMING IRAQ ARE TOO HIGH TO BE SIDE-TRACKED:
//RICHARDSON ACT//
THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT IRAQ MAY HAVE USED THIS TIME
TO BUILD UP THEIR POISON GAS ARSENAL -- LIKE ANTHRAX.
WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH THAT. AT A MINIMUM, UNSCOM SHOULD
COME OUT STRONGER, WITH MORE ACCESS BY THE IRAQIS, WITH
MORE ABILITY TO MOVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, UNIMPEDED.
IRAQ SHOULD STOP ITS CONCEALMENT EFFORTS AND COME CLEAN.
THAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT STEP.
//END ACT//
THE UNITED STATES HAS THREATENED TO VETO ANY RECOMMENDATION BY
THE SPECIAL COMMISSION THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EFFICIENCY
AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSPECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/EJ/EH
21-Nov-97 2:50 PM EST (1950 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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