DATE=2/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227081
TITLE=IRAQ/PRESIDENTIAL SITES
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=BAGHDAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A SENIOR UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL SAYS HE HAS BEEN GIVEN
ACCESS TO THE 8 PRESIDENTIAL SITES IN IRAQ AT THE CENTER OF THE
DISPUTE OVER UN WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. VOA'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS
NEWS OF THE ACCESS WAS RELEASED FRIDAY AS UN SECRETARY GENERAL
KOFI ANAN ARRIVED IN BAGHDAD FOR NEGOTIATIONS AIMED AT PREVENTING
A MILITARY CONFRONTATION.
TEXT: THE HEAD OF A SPECIAL UN TEAM, WORKING FOR THE SECRETARY
GENERAL, SAYS HE AND 4 TECHNICAL EXPERTS WERE GIVEN UNLIMITED
ACCESS TO THE 8 PRESIDENTIAL SITES DURING THE LAST WEEK. THE
OFFICIAL, STEFAN DEMISTRA, SAID THE VISITS WERE PART OF HIS
MISSION TO PREPARE A MAP OF THE 8 SITES IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM
HUSSEIN HAS DECLARED OFF LIMITS TO UN WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
HE SAYS HIS TEAM USED HELICOPTERS TO PHOTOGRAPH THE COMPLEXES
WHICH COVER A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 30 SQUARE KILOMETERS. HE WOULD
NOT SAY HOW MANY BUILDINGS WERE IDENTIFIED BUT DID SAY HIS TEAM
ENTERED BETWEEN 10 AND 20 PERCENT OF THE STRUCTURES.
THE TEAM INCLUDED 2 MEMBERS OF THE UNSCOM WEAPONS INSPECTION
TEAM WHICH IRAQ CHARGES IS STAFFED MAINLY BY AMERICAN SPYS. THE
UNITED STATES HAS DENIED THAT CHARGE.
MR DEMISTRA SAYS MOST OF THE BUILDINGS APPEARED TO BE GOVERMENT
GUEST HOUSES INTENDED FOR HIGH LEVEL DIGNATARIES. HE DID NOT SAY
IF IT APPEARED ANY OF THE STRUCTURES WERE BEING USED FOR THE
PREPARATION OR STORAGE OF CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS BUT HE
SAID, DETERMINING THAT, WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PART OF THE SPECIFIC
PARAMETERS OF HIS MISSION.
MR DEMISTRA AND HIS TEAM SPENT LESS THAN 1 WEEK MAPPING THE
SITES. THEY TOOK ABOUT 500 PHOTOGRAPHS AND CARRIED OUT AERIAL
SURVEILLANCE OF ALL BUT 2 OF THE SITES.
HIS STATEMENTS COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE WEEKEND TALKS IN
BAGHDAD BETWEEN THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL AND IRAQI OFFICIALS ON
WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. WHILE MR DEMISTRA DECLINED TO DRAW ANY
CONCLUSIONS FROM HIS FINDINGS, THEY COULD BE SEEN AS AN
INDICATION THAT THE CURRENT DISPUTE WITH IRAQ MAY BE SOLVED WITH
CHANGES IN THE TERMINOLOGY OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS RATHER
THAN THE INSPECTIONS THEMSELVES. (SIGNED)
NEB/MPR/PLM
20-Feb-98 6:28 PM EST (2328 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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