DATE=3/6/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-227724 TITLE=RUSSIA / IRAQ WEAPONS INSPECTIONS (S-O) BYLINE=MAX RUSTON DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: RUSSIA IS (FRIDAY) ASKING U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TO APPOINT A SPECIAL RUSSIAN DISARMAMENT EXPERT TO WORK WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN IRAQ. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS. TEXT: THE REQUEST FOLLOWS A NUMBER OF SIGNALS FROM RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS THAT THEY FEEL LEFT OUT OF THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS CONCERNING WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. IN A LETTER TO MR. ANNAN, RUSSIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, SERGEI LAVROV, ASKS THAT A RUSSIAN EXPERT BE APPOINTED DEPUTY TO CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER. MR. BUTLER MET WITH THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR FRIDAY TO DISCUSS THE REQUEST. THE REQUEST COULD LEAD TO SECURITY CONCERNS AMONG WEAPONS INSPECTORS, CONSIDERING THE CLOSE TIES MOSCOW HAS MAINTAINED WITH THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP. IRAQ IS STRONGLY OPPOSED TO WEAPONS INSPECTIONS AND HAS ACCUSED INSPECTORS OF ACTING AS SPIES FOR BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES -- CHARGES DENIED BY BOTH COUNTRIES. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/LSF 06-Mar-98 12:04 PM EST (1704 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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