DATE=3/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-227958
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L)
BYLINE=AL PESSIN
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CHIEF OF THE SPECIAL UNITED NATIONS TEAMS WHICH WILL
INSPECT IRAQ'S PRESIDENTIAL SITES FLEW TO BAGHDAD WEDNESDAY TO
BEGIN MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THOSE INSPECTIONS. V-O-A'S AL
PESSIN REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.
TEXT: SRI LANKAN DIPLOMAT JAYANTHA DHANAPALA TOLD IRAQI
TELEVISION HE IS MAKING HIS FIRST VISIT TO BAGHDAD TO LAY THE
GROUNDWORK FOR U-N INSPECTIONS OF EIGHT PRESIDENTIAL SITES.
UNDER THE U-N / IRAQ AGREEMENT REACHED LAST MONTH, WHICH AVERTED
U-S AIRSTRIKES, IRAQ AGREED TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS INTO
THE SITES AS LONG AS THEY ARE ACCOMPANIED BY DIPLOMATS.
MR. DHANAPALA, THE U-N UNDERSECRETARY-GENERAL FOR DISARMAMENT, IS
REPORTED TO HAVE A PLAN IN HAND FOR DOING THAT, AND HE IS SEEKING
FINAL IRAQI APPROVAL. HE HAS ALREADY ASKED SEVERAL COUNTRIES TO
PROVIDE DIPLOMATS FOR THE INSPECTION TEAMS, INCLUDING THE UNITED
STATES AND BRITAIN, WHICH HAVE TAKEN THE TOUGHEST ATTITUDE TOWARD
IRAQ'S ALLEGED WEAPONS PROGRAM.
THE INSPECTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
REPORTERS WERE KEPT AWAY FROM MR. DHANAPALA ON WEDNESDAY AT THE
UNITED NATIONS' REQUEST. IRAQ HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT COMMENTS TO
THE MEDIA BY WEAPONS INSPECTORS, AND ASKED U-N SECRETARY GENERAL
KOFI ANNAN TO PUT AN END TO CONTACTS BETWEEN INSPECTORS AND
REPORTERS.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS CONTINUED TO VISIT
NON-PRESIDENTIAL SITES. ACCORDING TO THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY NINE
U-N TEAMS VISITED A TOTAL OF 11 SITES, INCLUDING ONE THAT HAD TO
BE REACHED BY HELICOPTER. U-N OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED
SATISFACTION THAT THE LATEST ROUND OF INSPECTIONS ARE GOING
SMOOTHLY, WITH NO IRAQI ATTEMPTS TO INTERFERE.
THAT INCLUDED INSPECTIONS OF SEVERAL SENSITIVE SITES IN RECENT
DAYS BY A TEAM LED BY AMERICAN SCOTT RITTER, WHO IRAQ ACCUSED OF
SPYING IN JANUARY. MR. RITTER AND MOST OF HIS 50-MEMBER TEAM
LEFT IRAQ TUESDAY AFTER THREE DAYS OF WORK.
IRAQ SAYS IT WANTS THE INSPECTIONS COMPLETED QUICKLY TO PROVE IT
HAS NO WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, SO U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
CAN BE REMOVED. BUT WESTERN EXPERTS SAY IRAQ DOES HAVE SUCH
WEAPONS, AND THE MEANS TO PRODUCE MORE, AND THEY PREDICT ANOTHER
CRISIS THE NEXT TIME THE INSPECTORS GET CLOSE TO FINDING THEM.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AWP/JWH
11-Mar-98 11:07 AM EST (1607 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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