DATE=3/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228530
TITLE=BUTLER/IRAQ (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR OVERSEEING THE
DISARMAMENT OF IRAQ HAS RETURNED TO BAGHDAD FOR THE FIRST TIME
SINCE THE INSPECTIONS PROCESS REACHED A CRISIS LAST MONTH.
CORRESPONDENT NICK SIMEONE REPORTS RICHARD BUTLER IS ANTICIPATING
AN IMPROVED CLIMATE OF COOPERATION, A TURNABOUT FROM THE CRISIS
THAT NEARLY PROVOKED A U-S MILITARY STRIKE JUST WEEKS AGO.
TEXT: IN HIS AGREEMENT WITH IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN, U-N
SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN WON PERMISSION TO INSPECT EIGHT
PRESIDENTIAL SITES.
THE FACT THESE SITES WERE NEVER BEFORE OPEN TO INSPECTORS LED
WEAPONS SPECIALISTS TO SUSPECT BAGHDAD MAY BE USING THEM TO HIDE
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. LAST MONTH'S AGREEMENT THAT AVERTED
A U-S MILITARY STRIKE WILL NOW BE PUT TO THE TEST WHEN MR.
BUTLER'S INSPECTORS BEGIN EXAMINING MORE THAN ONE-THOUSAND
BUILDINGS.
// BUTLER ACT //
THERE ARE EIGHT SITES, 31-POINT-FIVE-SQUARE KILOMETERS.
WE NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM.
// END ACT //
MR. BUTLER TOLD "C-N-N SUNDAY" HE EXPECTS THE INSPECTIONS TO TAKE
ABOUT TWO-WEEKS AND SENSES A GREATER DEGREE OF IRAQI COOPERATION.
// BUTLER ACT //
I HOPE THIS NEW SPIRIT WHICH I CAN FEEL AND IDENTIFY,
THIS NEW SPIRIT SINCE KOFI ANNAN'S AGREEMENT, PREVAILS
TO THE POINT WHERE IRAQ ACTUALLY GIVES US THE DOCUMENTS
AND MATERIALS THAT WE NEED TO VERIFY THEIR COMPLIANCE
WITH THESE ARMS CONTROL REQUIREMENTS.
// END ACT //
IRAQ DENIES IT POSSESSES WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. (SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/RAE
22-Mar-98 1:55 PM EST (1855 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
