DATE=3/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228639
TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (L ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=BEIRUT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE HEAD OF THE U-N ARMS COMMISSION IN IRAQ, RICHARD
BUTLER, HELD MORE TALKS WITH DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ IN
BAGHDAD TUESDAY, AS U-N OFFICIALS PREPARE FOR THEIR FIRST-EVER
INSPECTIONS OF EIGHT PRESIDENTIAL SITES. MIDDLE EAST
CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN BEIRUT HAS BEEN MONITORING
DEVELOPMENTS.
TEXT: THERE HAS BEEN NO SUBSTANTIVE COMMENT ON THE TWO DAYS
OF TALKS IN THE IRAQI CAPITAL. BUT MR. BUTLER SAYS THE
DISCUSSIONS HAVE GONE WELL. AND AT ALMOST EVERY OPPORTUNITY, THE
U-N ENVOY HAS HAILED WHAT HE TERMS A NEW SPIRIT OF COOPERATION
FROM IRAQI AUTHORITIES.
THAT IS IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE ATMOSPHERE JUST ONE MONTH AGO,
WHEN BAGHDAD'S DEFIANT REFUSAL TO ALLOW THE INSPECTORS INTO
PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUNDS ALMOST PROVOKED A MASSIVE WESTERN MILITARY
STRIKE AGAINST IRAQ.
MR. BUTLER WAS VILIFIED BY IRAQI OFFICIALS THROUGHOUT THE CRISIS.
//OPT// THEY CALLED HIM UNTRUSTWORTHY, AND DESCRIBED HIM AS AN
AGENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN. //END OPT//
BUT ALTHOUGH HE IS STILL THE SUBJECT OF SOME CRITICISM IN
BAGHDAD'S STATE-CONTROLLED NEWSPAPERS, COMMENTS FROM IRAQI
OFFICIALS ABOUT THE U-N ENVOY NOW ARE MUCH MORE RESTRAINED.
MR. BUTLER HAS SAID THE INSPECTORS WILL PROBABLY MAKE THEIR FIRST
VISITS TO THE PRESIDENTIAL SITES BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THEY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY A TEAM OF DIPLOMATS, WHO ARRIVED IN
BAGHDAD TUESDAY, UNDER THE TERMS OF THE 11TH-HOUR AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE U-N AND IRAQ THAT AVERTED MILITARY ACTION.
PRIVATELY, U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE LITTLE EXPECTATION OF
FINDING ANYTHING RELATED TO IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS WHEN THEY ARE
FINALLY ALLOWED INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUNDS. BUT THEY SAY
THE INITIAL INSPECTIONS WILL ALLOW THEM TO SET REFERENCE POINTS
FOR FUTURE VISITS.
MR. BUTLER SAYS THAT WITH CONTINUED IRAQI COOPERATION, THE U-N
COULD COMPLETE ITS TASK OF VERIFYING THE ELIMINATION OF BAGHDAD'S
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION WITHIN A YEAR. THAT WOULD CLEAR THE
WAY FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO LIFT THE CRIPPLING ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT SINCE THE IRAQI INVASION OF
KUWAIT MORE THAN SEVEN-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO.
WITH U-N OFFICIALS INCREASINGLY CONFIDENT OF THEIR INFORMATION
ABOUT IRAQ'S NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND ITS LONG-RANGE MISSILES, AND
WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS REPORTED IN THE AREA OF CHEMICAL
WEAPONS, THE CHIEF CONCERN NOW IS BAGHDAD'S BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS
PROGRAM.
THE TASK FOR THE U-N INSPECTORS IS COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT
MANY OF THE COMPONENTS OF BIOLOGICAL ARMS ARE SO-CALLED
"DUAL-USE" ITEMS, MATERIALS THAT CAN BE USED FOR MEDICAL VACCINES
AS WELL AS FOR DEADLY BANNED WEAPONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF
24-Mar-98 11:42 AM EST (1642 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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