DATE=4/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230344
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ SANCTIONS (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY (MONDAY)
ACKNOWLEDGED IRAQ HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS TOWARDS NUCLEAR
DISARMAMENT BUT REJECTED BAGHDAD'S CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE
LIFTING OF SANCTIONS. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED
NATIONS.
TEXT: SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY DISCUSSING
SANCTIONS ISSUES AMONG THEMSELVES AND LISTENING TO A BRIEFING
FROM IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED AL-SAHAF. PARTICIPANTS IN
THE TALKS SAY SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE UNANIMOUS IN
REJECTING IRAQ'S CALLS FOR THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS.
U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON:
/// RICHARDSON ACT ///
THE MAIN MESSAGE HERE IS THAT SANCTIONS WILL NOT BE
LIFTED BECAUSE IRAQ HAS FAILED TO COMPLY IN RELEVENT
SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
/// END ACT ///
PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS A CHANGE IN THE TONE OF STATEMENTS
FROM MR. RICHARDSON. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE U-S AMBASSADOR
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IRAQ HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS ON THE OPENING OF
PRESIDENTIAL AND SENSITIVE SITES AND ON THE DISMANTLING OF ITS
NUCLEAR PROGRAM. HOWEVER, HE MAINTAINED A FIRM POSITION AGAINST
THE IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS SAYING BAGHDAD CONTINUES TO
CONCEAL INFORMATION PERTAINING TO CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS.
THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES ALSO REJECTED SUGGESTIONS
FROM RUSSIA AND CHINA THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL ENDORSE IRAQ'S
CLAIM THAT IT HAS STOPPED ITS NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM. BUT
DIPLOMATS INVOLVED IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS SAY
NEGOTIATIONS ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE WITH THE AIM OF FORMALLY
RECOGNIZING THAT SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE ON NUCLEAR ISSUES.
IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON MONDAY CONTINUED TO CALL FOR THE
IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS. MR. AL-SAHAF SAID HE PRESENTED
THE SECURITY COUNCIL WITH DATA DEMONSTRATING IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE
WITH COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.
/// AL-SAHAF ACT ///
WE RECEIVED SEVERAL QUESTIONS FROM MANY MEMBERS OF THE
SECURITY COUNCIL. ALSO, WE ANSWERED THEM FULLY AND NOW
WE THINK THE PICTURE IS MORE CLEAR IN THEIR MINDS, WITH
THE INFORMATION AND DATA, FIGURES AND FACTS WE HAVE
PROVIDED THEM.
/// END ACT ///
SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT THE END OF THE GULF WAR
SAY SANCTIONS CANNOT BE LIFTED UNTIL U-N INSPECTORS VERIFY THAT
IRAQ NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE LATEST
REPORT FROM THE INSPECTION TEAM SAYS VIRTUALLY NO PROGRESS
TOWARDS VERIFICATION HAS BEEN ACHIEVED OVER THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
BRITISH AMBASSADOR JOHN WESTON REJECTED SUGGESTIONS THAT THE
SECURITY COUNCIL HAS REACHED AN IMPASSE WITH IRAQ ON THE
SANCTIONS ISSUE. HE SAID IT COULD TAKE A LONG TIME TO RESOLVE
THE ISSUE, BUT EVENTUALLY IT WILL BE RESOLVED.
/// WESTON ACT ///
SOMETIMES IT TAKES A LONG TIME. THINK OF THE OTHER BIG
INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS OVER THE PAST 20 TO 25 YEARS,
WHERE IT HAS TAKEN A BIT LONGER. AND WE ARE PREPARED TO
SIT THERE AS LONG AS IT TAKES. THE STAKES, AS I HAVE
OFTEN SAID BEFORE ON THIS SUBJECT, ARE FAR TOO HIGH FOR
REGIONAL SECURITY AND STABILITY AND FOR THE REPUTATION
OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN THE FIELD OF THE PROLIFERATION
OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AND I DO NOT WANT THIS
ORGANIZATION, WHOSE INTERNATIONAL STANDING AT THE MOMENT
I WISH WERE HIGHER THAN IT IS, TO BE DUPED BY THIS
POLICY OF THE BIG LIE, WHICH RECALLS ONLY ONE THING ...
OTHER DICTATORS EARLIER THIS CENTURY. WE ARE NOT GOING
TO BE HAD BY THAT. WE ARE GOING TO SIT THERE AS LONG AS
IT TAKES, AND GET IT RIGHT.
/// END ACT ///
IRAQ HAS WARNED THAT A NEW CRISIS COULD DEVELOP IN THE GULF IF
SANCTIONS ARE NOT LIFTED SOON. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/PT
27-Apr-98 9:31 PM EDT (0131 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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