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DATE=3/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228416
TITLE=UN/IRAQ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: A TOP UNITED NATIONS OFFICIAL SAYS U-N INSPECTORS -- 
ACCOMPANIED BY A GROUP OF DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS -- WILL SOON BEGIN
WEAPONS INSPECTIONS OF EIGHT PRESIDENTIAL SITES IN IRAQ.  LISA 
SCHLEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA THAT A GROUP OF 20 SENIOR DIPLOMATS 
ARE DUE TO TRAVEL TO IRAQ EARLY NEXT WEEK.
TEXT:  THE GROUP'S TASK IS TO ACCOMPANY U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ON
THEIR VISITS TO FACILITIES SUSPECTED TO CONTAIN BIOLOGICAL OR 
CHEMICAL WEAPONS. 
LAST MONTH,  U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AND IRAQI PRESIDENT
SADDAM HUSSEIN SIGNED AN AGREEMENT WHICH ESTABLISHED A GROUP OF 
DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS.  THE HEAD OF THE SPECIAL GROUP OF 
OBSERVERS, JAYANTHA DHANAPALA, SAYS THE VISIT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL
SITES WILL BE A TEST OF IRAQ'S GOOD WILL IN FULFILLING THE 
AGREEMENT THAT WAS WORKED OUT 
                       ///DHANAPALA ACT///
         WE HAVE HAD, AS I SAID, ASSURANCES OF FULL COOPERATION 
         OF THE IRAQI AUTHORITIES WHERE WE WILL VISIT THESE SITES
         AT NO NOTICE -- THE SAME PRINCIPLE WHICH OPERATES WITH 
         REGARD TO OTHER SITES OUTSIDE THE PRESIDENTIAL AREAS. 
                          ///END ACT///
BECAUSE OF WHAT IS CALLED THE "PRINCIPLE OF NO NOTICE," MR. 
DHANAPALA WOULD  NOT  GIVE A DATE FOR THE START OF INSPECTIONS.  
BUT, HE SAYS, HE EXPECTS IT WILL TAKE TWO WEEKS TO VISIT ALL 
EIGHT PRESIDENTIAL SITES. 
//OPT// MR. DHANAPALA WILL ARRIVE IN BAGHDAD ON SUNDAY, 
ACCOMPANIED BY THE U-N'S CHIEF WEAPONS' INSPECTOR, RICHARD 
BUTLER.  A GROUP OF 20 DIPLOMATIC OBSERVERS WILL ARRIVE IN IRAQ 
SHORTLY THEREAFTER.  THE DIPLOMATS INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM 
EACH OF THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, 
AS WELL AS DIPLOMATS FROM COUNTRIES SUCH AS HUNGARY, SUDAN, 
BRAZIL AND GERMANY. //END OPT//
MR. DHANAPALA SAYS THE OBSERVERS WILL  NOT  INTERFERE WITH THE 
WORK OF WHAT'S CALLED THE "UNSCOM" INSPECTORS. ALTHOUGH SEVERAL 
MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE THE LAST U-N INSPECTION, MR. DHANAPALA 
SAYS THAT DOES  NOT  MEAN THE CURRENT VISITS WILL BE FUTILE.
                   ///SECOND DHANAPALA ACT///
         SO IF IT IS SUGGESTED THAT SOMETHING MAY HAVE BEEN MOVED
         FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL SITES ELSEWHERE, UNSCOM HAVE 
         ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF VISITING WHATEVER PLACE THESE 
         MATERIALS MAY HAVE BEEN CONCEALED.  AND I'M NOT MAKING 
         ANY IMPUTATIONS WITH REGARD TO WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE 
         BEEN MOVED.
                          ///END ACT///
MR. DHANAPALA SAYS THE DIPLOMATS WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY SPECIAL  
TECHNICAL TRAINING.  HE SAYS THEY ARE ONLY THERE TO OBSERVE AND 
TO REPORT ON WHAT THEY SEE. (SIGNED) 
NEB/LS/PCF
19-Mar-98 2:39 PM EST (1939 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.