DATE=2/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226671
TITLE=RUSSIA/IRAQ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PETER HEINLEIN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: RUSSIA THURSDAY STRONGLY DENIED A U-S NEWSPAPER REPORT
ALLEGING MOSCOW MAY HAVE SOLD IRAQ EQUIPMENT USED FOR MAKING
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. AS WE HEAR FROM VOA MOSCOW CORRESPONDENT
PETER HEINLEIN, A SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL VISITING MOSCOW
AVOIDED COMMENT ON THE ISSUE.
TEXT: FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN GENNADY TARASOV DESCRIBED AS "A
CRUDE INVENTION" A "WASHINGTON POST" (NEWSPAPER) REPORT SAYING
U-N INSPECTORS HAD UNCOVERED EVIDENCE OF A DEAL TO SELL IRAQ A
FERMENTATION TANK THAT COULD BE USED TO DEVELOP BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS.
///TARASOV ACT IN RUSSIAN -- UP, THEN FADE TO...///
MR. TARASOV SAID "RUSSIA HAS NOT CONCLUDED ANY DEALS WITH IRAQ
THAT WOULD VIOLATE INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS." HE ALSO SAID RUSSIA
WANTS THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION ON IRAQ TO REFUTE THE
"POST" REPORT.
THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED THURSDAY QUOTED ANONYMOUS SOURCES AS SAYING
AN OFFICIAL IRAQI DOCUMENT SEIZED BY THE U-N INSPECTION TEAM
DESCRIBED NEGOTIATIONS LEADING TO A DEAL WORTH MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS. THE REPORT SAID AMERICAN AND FOREIGN DIPLOMATS ARE
CONCERNED RUSSIA'S RECENT DIPLOMATIC DRIVE TO HELP IRAQ CONSTRAIN
FURTHER INSPECTIONS MIGHT HAVE HIDDEN MOTIVES.
SPOKESMAN TARASOV CALLED THAT ALLEGATION OFFENSIVE.
///SECOND TARASOV ACT UP, THEN FADE TO... ///
HE SAID BY NONE TOO SUBTLE HINTS, THE AUTHOR IS TRYING TO GIVE
THE IMPRESSION THAT RUSSIA'S REPRESENTATIVES ON THE SPECIAL
COMMISSION ARE ACTING SOLELY FOR IRAQ'S BENEFIT.
RUSSIA'S DEFENSE MINISTER IGOR SERGEYEV ALSO DENIED THE NEWSPAPER
REPORT DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH VISITING U-S DEFENSE
SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN. BUT HE ADMITTED HE HAD NOT SEEN THE
ARTICLE.
IN EARLIER INTERVIEWS, SECRETARY COHEN SAID THE DIFFICULTY WITH
BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS IS THAT SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT
COULD BE USED TO MAKE FERTILIZER AND IT COULD ALSO BE USED FOR
WEAPONS PRODUCTION. HE TOLD REPORTERS HE EXPECTED RUSSIA TO
RESPOND TO THE CHARGES.
///COHEN ACT///
I HAVE NO INFORMATION TO CONFIRM THE REPORT THAT WAS
IN THE WASHINGTON POST TODAY. YOU HAVE HEARD MINISTER
SERGEYEV FLATLY CONTRADICT THE CONTENTS OF THE REPORT TO
THE EXTENT HE UNDERSTANDS IT, AND IF FURTHER INFORMATION
IS REQUIRED, I'M SURE MINISTER SERGEYEV AND OTHERS WILL
RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.
///END ACT///
THE (WASHINGTON) "POST" REPORT SAID IT IS UNCERTAIN WHETHER THE
EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS WAS EVER DELIVERED TO
IRAQ. SECRETARY COHEN SAID THAT QUESTION WOULD HAVE TO BE
ANSWERED BY THE UNITED NATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/PFH/PCF
12-Feb-98 1:46 PM EST (1846 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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