DATE=3/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227887
TITLE=IRAQ INSPECTORS (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A CONTROVERSIAL AMERICAN ARMS INSPECTOR HAS LEFT IRAQ,
ALONG WITH MOST OF HIS TEAM, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF INSPECTIONS
WHICH U-N OFFICIALS SAY WENT SMOOTHLY -- UNLIKE THE INSPECTOR'S
PREVIOUS VISIT TO IRAQ IN JANUARY. V-O-A'S AL PESSIN REPORTS
FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.
TEXT: ARMS INSPECTION TEAM LEADER SCOTT RITTER LEFT IRAQ TUESDAY
AFTER THREE DAYS OF INTENSIVE INSPECTIONS, WHICH U-N OFFICIALS
SAY WERE CARRIED OUT TO HIS SATISFACTION.
MR. RITTER AND HIS TEAM, COMPRISING AS MANY AS 50 PEOPLE, CARRIED
OUT SURPRISE INSPECTIONS AT SEVERAL IRAQI SITES, INCLUDING EIGHT
IRAQ DESCRIBES AS SENSITIVE. BUT THE TEAM DID NOT TRY TO
INSPECT PRESIDENTIAL SITES, WHICH ARE TO BE COVERED BY SPECIAL
GROUPS OF INSPECTORS AND DIPLOMATS STARTING IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.
MR. RITTER'S INSPECTIONS ON THIS TRIP INCLUDED AN ALL-NIGHT
OUTING FROM MONDAY UNTIL DAWN TUESDAY. BUT, AS WITH HIS OTHER
TRAVELS IN AND AROUND BAGHDAD THIS TIME, REPORTERS WERE KEPT AWAY
AND WERE NOT TOLD EXACTLY WHAT SITES HE VISITED.
THE LAST TIME MR. RITTER WAS IN IRAQ -- IN JANUARY -- THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT PREVENTED HIS TEAM FROM WORKING, SAYING IT HAD TOO
MANY AMERICANS AND BRITONS WHO WERE NOT OBJECTIVE. IRAQ ALSO
ACCUSED MR. RITTER OF BEING A SPY. THE INCIDENT HELPED TRIGGER
THE CRISIS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS, WHICH NEARLY
CAUSED A WAR LAST MONTH. MR. RITTER RETURNED TO IRAQ UNDER THE
AGREEMENT NEGOTIATED BY U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN, WHICH
ENDED THE CRISIS.
THE VISIT WAS WIDELY SEEN AS A U-N EFFORT TO TEST IRAQ'S
SINCERITY UNDER THAT AGREEMENT. AN OFFICIAL IRAQI NEWSPAPER,
"AL-IRAQ," OBJECTED TO THAT TUESDAY, SAYING MR. RITTER CAME TO
BAGHDAD TO IMPLEMENT AN ALLEGED U-S GOVERNMENT PLAN TO CREATE A
CRISIS AND HURT THE FEBRUARY AGREEMENT.
MR. RITTER FLEW TO BAHRAIN, WHERE A SENIOR U-N DIPLOMAT WILL BE
PASSING THROUGH ON HIS WAY TO IRAQ. THE DIPLOMAT, SRI LANKAN
JAYANTHA DHANAPALA, IS HEAD OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE WHICH WILL
ORGANIZE INSPECTIONS OF THE IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL SITES. HE IS
EXPECTED IN BAGHDAD ON WEDNESDAY.
IRAQ SAYS IT HAS GOTTEN RID OF ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION, AND IT WANTS THE INSPECTIONS COMPLETED AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE TO PROVE ITS CONTENTION, AND TO ALLOW FOR THE LIFTING OF
U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. BUT THE UNITED STATES AND MANY OTHER
NATIONS SAY IRAQ HAS LIED ABOUT ITS WEAPONS PROGRAM MANY TIMES
BEFORE, AND THAT ANY LIFTING OF THE SANCTIONS CAN ONLY COME AFTER
EXTENSIVE AND UNRESTRICTED INSPECTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/PCF
10-Mar-98 10:59 AM EST (1559 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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