DATE=4/28/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-230380
TITLE=UN / IRAQ REACT (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQ TODAY (TUESDAY) BLAMED THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN
FOR THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL'S DECISION MONDAY TO MAINTAIN
SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX
RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.
TEXT: IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMED AL-SAHAF ACCUSED THE
UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN OF MANIPULATING THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO
ENSURE THE CONTINUATION OF SANCTIONS AGAINST HIS COUNTRY. HE
SAID IRAQ IS VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT SANCTIONS WILL CONTINUE AND
REITERATED HIS GOVERNMENT'S DEMAND THAT THEY BE LIFTED
IMMEDIATELY.
MR. AL-SAHAF RESPONDED WITH ANGER TO SUGGESTIONS THAT THE UNITED
STATES HAD SOFTENED ITS TONE IN THE LATEST REVIEW OF SANCTIONS.
ON MONDAY, U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS BILL RICHARDSON
ACKNOWLEDGED, FOR THE FIRST TIME, SOME PROGRESS ON THE
DISMANTLING OF IRAQ'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM. BUT MR. RICHARDSON
CONTINUED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF
SANCTIONS.
MR. AL-SAHAF REJECTED SUGGESTIONS THAT MR. RICHARDSON'S STATEMENT
REPRESENT A STEP FORWARD.
/// AL-SAHAF ACT ///
IT IS HYPOCRISY. THEY ARE WORKING COMPLETELY AGAINST
ANY MOVE TOWARDS LIFTING SANCTIONS AND THEY ARE
DECEIVING THE PUBLIC OPINION WITH THIS HYPOCRISY.
/// END ACT ///
RESOLUTIONS APPROVED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL REQUIRE THAT
IRAQ VERIFY THAT IT NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION BEFORE SANCTIONS CAN BE LIFTED. IRAQ CLAIMS IT HAS
FULLY MET THAT REQUIREMENT.
BUT ON TUESDAY, CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER
REJECTED THAT CLAIM, SAYING IRAQ HAS NOT HANDED OVER ALL THE
INFORMATION NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE VERIFICATION PROCESS.
/// BUTLER ACT ///
IRAQ HAS ALL OF THAT MATERIAL IN ITS ARCHIVES, IN ITS
RECORDS, AT ITS DISPOSAL. IF THEY REALLY WANT THIS TO
BE OVER THEY SHOULD GIVE IT TO US. THEY PROMISED IN THE
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WOULD GIVE US FULL
COOPERATION. THAT IS ALL WE ASK. OUR PROMISE IS THAT
WHEN THEY DO THAT THEY WILL FIND US COMPETENT, HONEST
AND QUICK.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BUTLER SAID COOPERATION HAS IMPROVED OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS,
SINCE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN VISITED BAGHDAD AND HELD
TALKS WITH IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN. BUT HE SAID HIS TEAM
IS CONTINUING TO FACE SERIOUS PROBLEMS CONVINCING IRAQ TO PROVIDE
INFORMATION CONCERNING ITS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM.
LAST WEEK, IRAQI OFFICIALS WARNED THAT A NEW CRISIS COULD DEVELOP
IN THE GULF IF SANCTIONS ARE NOT LIFTED SOON. BUT THE IRAQI
FOREIGN MINISTER, SPEAKING IN NEW YORK, INDICATED NO RETALIATION
IS PLANNED. HE SAID IRAQ WOULD CONTINUE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE
SECURITY COUNCIL TO HAVE THE SANCTIONS LIFTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF
28-Apr-98 2:14 PM EDT (1814 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
