DATE=2/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226600
TITLE=RUSSIA/IRAQ FLIGHT (CQ) (L)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AN AIRPLANE CARRYING A RUSSIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION
ALONG WITH A SHIPMENT OF AID SUPPLIES HAS ARRIVED IN BAGHDAD.
VOA'S PETER HEINLEIN IN MOSCOW REPORTS THE HUMANITARIAN NATURE OF
THE FLIGHT WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THE ANTICS OF ULTRANATIONALIST
LAWMAKER, VLADIMIR ZHIRINOVSKY.
TEXT: AFTER A THREE-DAY DELAY, THE CHARTERED JET FLEW OUT OF THE
ARMENIAN CAPITAL, YEREVAN, WEDNESDAY. ON BOARD WAS A 30-MEMBER
DELEGATION, INCLUDING RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS AND JOURNALISTS, ALONG
WITH 15 TONS OF HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES.
THE PLANE ORIGINALLY LEFT MOSCOW SUNDAY WITH NEARLY 50 MEMBERS OF
RUSSIA'S PARLIAMENT ABOARD, ACCOMPANIED BY MORE THAN 150 OTHERS.
BUT THE FLIGHT WAS GROUNDED IN YEREVAN AWAITING UNITED NATIONS
CLEARANCE TO FLY THROUGH IRAQI AIRSPACE.
PERMISSION WAS EVENTUALLY GRANTED, BUT ONLY FOR 30 PEOPLE. THE
DELEGATION'S LEADER, ULTRANATIONALIST POLITICIAN VLADIMIR
ZHIRINOVSKY, FIRST REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE RESTRICTION, TERMING IT
AN OUTRAGE, BUT HE CHANGED HIS MIND AND BOARDED THE PLANE
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES REPORTED CHAOS AT THE YEREVAN AIRPORT AS
FISTFIGHTS AND SHOUTING MATCHES BROKE OUT AMONG MEMBERS OF THE
ORIGINAL DELEGATION COMPETING FOR SEATS ON THE PLANE. AT ONE
POINT, MR. ZHIRINOVSKY WAS SAID TO HAVE THROWN A GLASS AT
RUSSIA'S AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA AS THE ENVOY TRIED TO CALM HIM
DOWN.
THE UNPREDICTABLE LEADER OF RUSSIA'S MISNAMED LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC
PARTY REPEATEDLY CURSED THE AMBASSADOR FOR WHAT HE CALLED FAILURE
TO SUPPORT HIS HUMANITARIAN MISSION. THE SPEAKER OF RUSSIA'S
PARLIAMENT, GENNADY SELEZNYOV, DESCRIBED MR. ZHIRINOVSKY'S
BEHAVIOR AS "HOOLIGANISM."
//REST OPT// MR. ZHIRINOVSKY WAS GRANTED CLEARANCE FOR A SIMILAR
FLIGHT LAST DECEMBER. HE HAS VISITED BAGHDAD SEVERAL TIMES TO
SHOW SUPPORT FOR IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN, AND HAS BEEN AN
OUTSPOKEN CRITIC OF UNITED STATES POLICY.
THIS WEEK, HE ACCUSED THE UNITED STATES OF TRYING TO BLOCK HIS
FLIGHT BECAUSE OF FEAR THAT REPORTERS WOULD SEE INNOCENT
CIVILIANS DYING FROM AMERICAN BOMBS. HE TOLD REPORTERS
TRAVELLING WITH HIM "THE UNITED STATES JUST WANTS TO STRIKE IRAQ
TO SHOW WHO'S BOSS." (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
11-Feb-98 1:18 PM EST (1818 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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