DATE=2/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227144
TITLE=IRAQ AGREEMENT REACHED (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=BAGHDAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY KOFI ANNAN AND IRAQI DEPUTY
PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ SIGNED AN AGREEMENT MONDAY IN BAGHDAD
TO ALLOW THE RESUMPTION OF U-N INSPECTIONS OF SUSPECTED IRAQI
WEAPONS SITES. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE IRAQI
CAPITOL, BAGHDAD.
TEXT: MR. ANNAN DESCRIBED THE AGREEMENT AS BALANCED, CREDIBLE
AND SERIOUS. IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ CALLED IT A
GREAT VICTORY FOR HIS COUNTRY. WITH THOSE COMMENTS THE TWO
DIPLOMATS ENDED JUST OVER TWO DAYS OF OFTEN-DIFFICULT
DISCUSSIONS, AIMED AT AVERTING A NEW MILITARY CONFRONTATION.
DETAILS OF THE AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL AFTER MR.
ANNAN BRIEFS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL ON TUESDAY. BUT SOURCES
SAY THE AGREEMENT DOES ALLOW THE RESUMPTION OF UNRESTRICTED U-N
INSPECTIONS OF SUSPECTED IRAQI WEAPONS SITES.
THEY SAY IT ALSO CALLS FOR THE EXPANSION OF INSPECTION TEAMS TO
INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM SEVERAL COUNTRIES OTHER THAN THE
UNITED STATES -- A MOVE DESIGNED TO EASE IRAQ'S CONCERNS THE
TEAMS ARE BEING MANIPULATED BY THE US GOVERNMENT.
IRAQ WANTED TIME LIMITS IMPOSED ON THE INSPECTION TEAMS, BUT WAS
CONVINCED TO DROP THAT DEMAND IN A LAST-MINUTE TELEPHONE CALL
FROM RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER PRIMAKOV.
MR. ANNAN MUST NOW SEEK SUPPORT FOR THE AGREEMENT FROM THE U-N
SECURITY COUNCIL AND -- MOST IMPORTANTLY -- THE UNITED STATES.
HE SAYS THE AGREEMENT SHOULD MEET WASHINGTON'S REQUIREMENTS, BUT
THE US GOVERNMENT HAS NOT SAID IT SEES THE AGREEMENT AS A FULL
SOLUTION TO THE LATEST CRISIS.
WASHINGTON SAYS THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS ARE A CRUCIAL PART OF
EFFORTS TO PREVENT IRAQ FROM PRODUCING OR DEPLOYING CHEMICAL OR
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
AFTER SIGNING THE AGREEMENT MONDAY, THE IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME
MINISTER SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE UNITED STATES FOR ITS MILITARY
BUILDUP IN THE REGION. HE SAID THE AGREEMENT WITH MR. ANNAN WAS
REACHED THROUGH GOODWILL, NOT WHAT HE CALLED SABRE RATTLING.
MR. ANNAN ALSO SAID COOPERATION AND GOODWILL WERE KEY FACTORS IN
DEFUSING THE CRISIS. THE CRISIS WHICH PROMPTED MR. ANNAN'S VISIT
BEGAN WHEN IRAQ DECLARED EIGHT SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES OFF LIMITS
TO U-N INSPECTORS. (SIGNED)
NEB / TM-T / WD
23-Feb-98 5:35 AM EST (1035 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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