DATE= 11/19/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-222949
TITLE=IRAQ WEAPONS SUMMARY (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: WEAPONS EXPERTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL
COMMISSION DISARMING IRAQ SAY ONE OF THE MOST CRITICAL PROBLEMS
THEY FACE AT THE MOMENT IS PERSUADING IRAQ TO LET INSPECTORS INTO
SO-CALLED SENSITIVE SITES WHERE BAGHDAD MAY BE HIDING BANNED
MATERIAL. THE EXPERTS -- LED BY COMMISSION CHAIRMAN RICHARD
BUTLER -- PRESENTED THE SECURITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY WITH A
TECHNICAL UPDATE OF THEIR WORK. V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT ELAINE
JOHANSON REPORTS:
TEXT: THE SPECIAL COMMISSION EXPERTS SAY THEY BELIEVE -- UNTIL
THEY CAN PROVE OTHERWISE -- THAT IRAQ STILL HAS SIGNIFICANT
STORES OF BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS MATERIAL. AND THEY
CANNOT SAY FOR SURE WHETHER IRAQ HAS THE CAPABILITY OF TURNING
SHORT-RANGE MISSILES PERMITTED UNDER U-N RESOLUTIONS INTO
LONG-RANGE WEAPONS THAT ARE BANNED.
THE EXPERTS DESCRIBED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL A SYSTEMATIC
PRACTICE BY IRAQ OF DECEPTION AND CONCEALMENT. THEY SAY BAGHDAD
HAS IN PLACE A FORMAL MECHANISM FOR HIDING MATERIAL FROM THE
INSPECTORS THAT EMPLOYS THOUSANDS OF IRAQIS FROM VARIOUS
ORGANIZATIONS, EVEN INCLUDING THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT SADDAM
HUSSEIN.
AS THE EXPERTS EXPLAINED, THE IRAQIS HAVE COMMISSION ACTIVITES
UNDER HEAVY SURVEILLANCE. WHEN IRAQ BLOCKS THE INSPECTORS FROM
CERTAIN SITES, PHOTOGRAPHS SHOW IMMEDIATE MOVEMENT OF CONVOYS
FROM THE AREA. THE EXPERTS SAY THEY HAVE FURTHER EVIDENCE TO
PROVE THE CONVOYS ARE CARRYING BANNED ITEMS.
CHIEF INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER SAYS HE WANTS TO BRING THE
INSPECTIONS TO AN END AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BUT HE FIRST NEEDS
IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO ALL SITES ON DEMAND:
//BUTLER ACT//
LET US IN TO SOME OF THOSE PLACES WHERE YOU MAY HAVE
HIDDEN STUFF. OR IF YOU HAVEN'T, IF WE CAN GO IN WE CAN
VERIFY YOU HAVEN'T HIDDEN STUFF. JUST LET US IN.
THAT'S ALL WE'RE ASKING. IT'S NOT ILL WILL TOWARDS
THEM. WE'RE AS SICK OF THE JOB, I GUESS, AS THEY ARE.
IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.
//END ACT//
MOST OF THIS INFORMATION THE COUNCIL RECEIVED IS NOT NEW. BUT IT
WAS RENDERED MORE DRAMATIC AND PERHAPS BETTER UNDERSTOOD BY WHAT
DIPLOMATS SAY WAS A CLEAR PRESENTATION OF HIGHLY TECHNICAL
ISSUES.
THE EMPHASIS ON IRAQ'S CONCEALMENT POLICY COMES AT A SENSITIVE
TIME. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS WORKING HARD ON A POLITICAL
SOLUTION TO THE CRISIS THAT EMERGED WHEN IRAQ BANNED AMERICANS
FROM U-N INSPECTION TEAMS. BUT COMMISSION CHAIRMAN BUTLER SAYS
MORE INFORMATION CAN ONLY HELP:
//BUTLER ACT//
THE COUNCIL WELCOMED THESE REPORTS. AROUND THE
TABLE...TO A PERSON..EVERYONE SAID THESE HAD BEEN
IMMENSELY VALUABLE REPORTS THAT HELPED THE COUNCIL SEE
HOW MUCH HAS BEEN ACHIEVED AND WHAT NOW NEEDS TO BE
ACHIEVED TO BRING THIS TO AN END.
//END ACT//
U-N INSPECTORS HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS IN DISARMING IRAQ
SINCE 1991. BUT THEY SAY THE REMAINING GAPS ARE SIGNIFICANT.
BAGHDAD, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS SECRETLY DESTROYED TONS OF BANNED
CHEMICAL MATERIAL -- WHICH THE SPECIAL COMMISSION NEEDS TO VERIFY
BEFORE IT DECLARES THE DANGER OVER.
IN THE BALANCE HANGS IRAQ'S DEMAND FOR AN END TO THE ECONOMIC
EMBARGO IMPOSED AFTER IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990. THE SECURITY
COUNCIL WANTS A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH ON THE WEAPONS ISSUE BEFORE
IT CONSIDERS EASING THE SANCTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PT
19-Nov-97 9:01 PM EST (0201 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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