DATE=2/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-226942
TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=KUWAIT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: AS U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN PREPARES FOR HIS
CRUCIAL DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO BAGHDAD, THE UNITED NATIONS HAS
ANNOUNCED A REDUCTION OF ITS STAFF IN IRAQ. CORRESPONDENT
DOUGLAS ROBERTS HAS BEEN MONITORING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CRISIS
AND HE FILED THIS REPORT FROM KUWAIT.
TEXT: IN WHAT THEY DESCRIBE AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE, U-N
OFFICIALS IN BAGHDAD ANNOUNCED 31 PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN
HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS IN IRAQ WILL LEAVE THE COUNTRY THURSDAY.
MORE 300 OTHER U-N STAFFERS -- INCLUDING THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS
-- WILL REMAIN IN IRAQ, AT LEAST FOR THE TIME BEING.
THE UNITED NATIONS DREW-UP PLANS TO EVACUATE ALL PERSONNEL IN
IRAQ SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, SOON AFTER THE UNITED STATES WARNED IT
WAS PREPARED TO USE FORCE TO COMPEL IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH
SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ON BAGHDAD'S WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION.
IRAQI OFFICIALS HAVE WELCOMED SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN'S IMPENDING
VISIT. BAGHDAD SAYS IT WILL MAKE SERIOUS AND LEGITIMATE EFFORTS
TO INSURE THE SUCCESS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL'S MISSION. BUT
THE IRAQI OFFICIALS HAVE GIVEN NO HINT THEY THEY ARE WILLING TO
BOW TO THE KEY U-N DEMAND -- UNLIMITED AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCESS
FOR U-N ARMS EXPERTS TO SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES.
BAGHDAD SIGNALED EARLIER THIS MONTH IT WOULD ALLOW U-N
REPRESENTATIVES TEMPORARY ACCESS TO SO-CALLED "PRESIDENTIAL
SITES" THAT HAVE BEEN OFF-LIMITS TO THE ARMS INSPECTORS. BUT THE
OFFER WAS REJECTED.
NEWS REPORTS SUGGEST MR. ANNAN WILL PROPOSE DIPLOMATS FROM
PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ACCOMPANY THE ARMS
INSPECTORS WHEN THEY VISIT SENSITIVE SITES. THERE HAS BEEN NO
PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE SUGGESTION FROM BAGHDAD.
EGYPT'S PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK SAID WEDNESDAY HE HAS RECEIVED
WHAT HE CALLED A "POSITIVE MESSAGE" ON THE CRISIS FROM IRAQI
LEADER, SADDAM HUSSEIN. MR. MUBARAK SAID HE BELIEVES THE IRAQI
PRESIDENT UNDERSTANDS THE SITUATION AND WILL WORK FOR THE SUCCESS
OF MR. ANNAN'S VISIT.
SOME ARAB ANALYSTS SAY THEY DOUBT THE SECRETARY-GENERAL WOULD BE
TRAVELLING TO BAGHDAD, UNLESS HE WAS CONFIDENT A DIPLOMATIC
SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND. BUT IN KUWAIT, ABDULLAH BISHARA, THE
FORMER SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL, SAYS IT
IS IMPERATIVE ANY SETTLEMENT INSURE FULL IRAQI COMPLIANCE WITH
U-N DEMANDS.
/// BISHARA ACT ///
WE DO NOT LIKE A NEGOTIATION THAT WOULD GIVE SADDAM
HUSSEIN A POLITICAL TRIUMPH. WE WOULD LIKE SADDAM
HUSSEIN TO ADHERE, LITERALLY AND IN LETTER AND SPIRIT,
TO THE FORMULA ADOPTED BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON THE
INSPECTION TEAM.
///END ACT///
THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL IS DUE IN BAGHDAD FRIDAY, AND IS
EXPECTED TO HOLD TALKS WITH IRAQI OFFICIALS DURING THE WEEKEND.
THE RESULTS OF HIS MISSION ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE KNOWN UNTIL HE
REPORTS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL EARLY NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF/RAE
18-Feb-98 11:01 AM EST (1601 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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