DATE= 11/7/97 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-222321 TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (L) BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS DATELINE=CAIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: AFTER THREE DAYS OF TALKS IN BAGHDAD, A TEAM OF UNITED NATIONS ENVOYS HAS FAILED TO PERSUADE IRAQ TO REPEAL ITS BAN ON AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK OF U-N ARMS INSPECTORS. IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE HE WANTS TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS. BUT HE HELD OUT LITTLE HOPE OF RESOLVING THE CRISIS, AS WE HEAR FROM MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN CAIRO. TEXT: MR. AZIZ ALLEGED THAT THE UNITED STATES CONTROLS AND DOMINATES THE U-N WEAPONS COMMISSION. AND HE CHARGED THAT WASHINGTON WILL NEVER ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO CERTIFY IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AS LONG AS THE PRESENT IRAQI LEADERSHIP REMAINS IN POWER. HE INSISTED THAT BAGHDAD HAS ALREADY COMPLIED WITH DEMANDS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. BUT HE SAID THE UNITED STATES IS PREVENTING THE SECURITY COUNCIL FROM LIFTING THE CRIPPLING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER IRAQ'S 1990 INVASION OF KUWAIT. THE UNITED STATES IS SUPERFICIALLY PROLONGING THE WORK OF THE ARMS COMMISSION, SAID MR. AZIZ, TURNING IT INTO AN ENDLESS GAME THAT COULD LAST FOR DECADES. HE SAID: OUR ADVERSARY IS ALSO OUR JUDGE, AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE IRAQI OFFICIAL WAS SPEAKING AFTER A FINAL ROUND OF TALKS WITH THE THREE ENVOYS DISPATCHED TO BAGHDAD BY U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. THE HEAD OF THE MISSION, FORMER ALGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAKHDAR IBRAHIMI, SAID THE TALKS WERE CONDUCTED IN A GOOD ATMOSPHERE, ADDING THAT HE UNDERSTANDS IRAQ'S IMPATIENCE AND ITS DESIRE TO SEE THE U-N SANCTIONS LIFTED. BUT MR. IBRAHIMI WAS NOT ABLE TO REPORT ANY PROGRESS ON THE U-N'S KEY DEMAND--THAT IRAQ LIFT ITS BAN ON U-S PARTICIPATION IN THE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AZIZ SAID IRAQ IS NOT SEEKING A CRISIS, ADDING THAT BAGHDAD WANTS THE DIALOGUE WITH THE U-N TO CONTINUE. THE IRAQI OFFICIAL HAS REQUESTED A U-S VISA, SO THAT HE CAN TRAVEL TO NEW YORK FOR TALKS WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL AND TO PRESENT HIS CASE DIRECTLY TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL. IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID IRAQ WILL NOT CARRY OUT ITS THREAT TO EXPEL THE U-S INSPECTORS, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO PREVENT THEM FROM PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK OF THE U-N TEAMS. HE NAMED HALF A DOZEN AMERICAN ARMY OFFICERS SERVING WITH THE U-N COMMISSION WHO, HE ALLEGED, HAVE BEEN REPORTING TO U-S MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. HE ALSO REITERATED IRAQ'S THREAT TO SHOOT DOWN U-S RECONNAISSANCE PLANES THAT ARE USED BY THE U-N COMMISSION TO MONITOR IRAQI WEAPONS SITES. MR. AZIZ ALLEGED THAT WASHINGTON HAS REPEATEDLY USED THE RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS TO PREPARE ATTACKS ON IRAQI TARGETS. (SIGNED) NEB/DBR/PCF/EH 07-Nov-97 8:50 AM EST (1350 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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