DATE=3/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227731
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ WEAPONS INSPECTIONS (S & L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS COMPLETED WORK TODAY (FRIDAY) ON
PROCEDURES FOR THE INSPECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL SITES IN IRAQ.
V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM OUR U-N BUREAU.
TEXT: U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE COMPLETED PROCEDURES WILL BE
PRESENTED TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON MONDAY, AFTER WHICH DETAILS
WILL BE RELEASED PUBLICLY. A U-N UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL WILL
LEAVE NEW YORK FOR BAGHDAD LATER MONDAY, WHERE HE WILL HELP TO
PREPARE A SPECIAL INSPECTION GROUP TO VISIT THE SITES.
THE COMPLETION OF THE PROCEDURES IS A KEY STEP TOWARDS ENDING THE
LATEST MILITARY TENSION SURROUNDING THE INSPECTION OF IRAQ'S
SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES.
THAT TENSION BEGAN WHEN IRAQ DECLARED EIGHT SO-CALLED
PRESIDENTIAL SITES OFF LIMITS TO WEAPONS INSPECTORS. LAST MONTH,
U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN VISITED BAGHDAD AND CONVINCED
IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN TO ALLOW THE RESUMPTION OF
INSPECTIONS, TO WHICH IRAQ HAD ALREADY AGREED AT THE END OF THE
GULF WAR.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
ON FRIDAY, AN INSPECTION TEAM LED BY AMERICAN SCOTT RITTER
CARRIED OUT ITS FIRST INSPECTION MISSION IN IRAQ SINCE JANUARY.
THE TEAM WAS WITHDRAWN FROM THE COUNTRY AFTER IRAQ CHARGED IT WAS
DOMINATED BY U-S SPIES AND PREVENTED THEM FROM WORKING.
A U-N SPOKESMAN SAYS THE TEAM OF ABOUT 50 INSPECTORS VISITED
THREE SITES ON FRIDAY, TWO OF WHICH WERE DECLARED "SENSITIVE" BY
IRAQI AUTHORITIES.
MR. RITTER'S TEAM FOCUSES ON SEARCHING FOR EFFORTS BY IRAQ TO
CONCEAL ITS ALLEGED CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS.
EWEN BUCHANAN, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION ON
INSPECTIONS, UNSCOM, SAYS OTHER TEAMS HAVE BEEN CARRYING OUT
THEIR WORK DESPITE THE DISPUTE OVER PRESIDENTIAL SITES.
/// BUCHANAN ACT ///
IN ADDITION TO THE DAILY MONITORING ACTIVITIES THAT WE
CARRY OUT THAT IRAQ IS NOT MISUSING DUAL-USE EQUIPMENT
-- THAT IS EQUIPMENT THAT HAS PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE
PURPOSES BUT COULD ALSO BE USED FOR WEAPONS ... SO WE GO
OUT AND CHECK THAT ON A DAILY BASIS TO MAKE SURE IT IS
NOT BEING USED TO RECREATE WEAPONS -- BUT IN ADDITION WE
SEND IN EXTERNAL INSPECTION TEAMS WHO GO IN FOR A
SPECIFIC TASK AND THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON BASICALLY SINCE
WE RESUMED OUR WORK IN NOVEMBER.
/// END ACT ///
IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE MORE SHOULD BE DONE TO SPEED UP
THE INSPECTION PROCESS. UNDER U-N RESOLUTIONS, INTERNATIONAL
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ CANNOT BE LIFTED UNTIL THE U-N INSPECTION
COMMISSION CERTIFIES THAT IRAQ NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF
06-Mar-98 2:08 PM EST (1908 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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