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Juan Carlos Brandt, Senior Associate Spokesman for the Secretary- General, told correspondents at today's noon briefing that the Security Council was discussing Iraq in the morning and that the Secretary-General was attending those informal consultations. The Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission for the disposal of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction (UNSCOM), Richard Butler, had introduced his report on his visit to the country and on discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Tariq Aziz, on the disarmament work of the Commission earlier in the week.

The Council also had before it a letter from Mr. Aziz containing Iraq's decisions on the work of UNSCOM, Mr. Brandt went on to say. At the time of the briefing, Council members were making statements. The Secretary-General was also expected to make a statement during the course of the deliberations. It was expected that the Secretary-General would talk to correspondents at the end of the Council's session to answer questions. Under other matters, Afghanistan could also be taken up in the Council with the possibility of a formal presidential statement being issued. He had been informed that a draft text was in the works as he spoke.

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A correspondent wanted to know whether the Security Council was discussing available options with regard to Iraq and a possible worst case scenario. Mr. Brandt said he had no idea of what was being discussed in the Council, as the present consultations were closed. The Spokesman's Office would know more after the meeting was adjourned.

Another correspondent wanted to know if the Secretary-General would extend an invitation to the Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Tariq Aziz, to come to New York. Mr. Brandt said the Secretary-General had told correspondents earlier in the morning that his intention was to have a phone conversation

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Daily Press Briefing - 3 - 6 August 1998

with Mr. Aziz. Mr. Brandt could not confirm whether the conversation had taken place, as the Secretary-General had had very little time before he went in the Council's meeting, where he wanted to be from the outset. Mr. Brandt said he could not tell correspondents whether Mr. Aziz would be asked to come to New York or to meet the Secretary-General in some other place. He would be in a position to do so later on when he spoke to the Secretary-General.

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