DATE=6/11/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233719
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-N'S CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER HAS
RETURNED TO IRAQ FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS AIMED AT
ELIMINATING WHAT REMAINS OF IRAQ'S PROHIBITED WEAPONS PROGRAM.
V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THE TALKS ARE
EXPECTED TO BE DIFFICULT BECAUSE IRAQ SAYS IT ALREADY IS IN
COMPLIANCE WITH U.N. DEMANDS.
TEXT: CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER ARRIVED IN IRAQ
THURSDAY SAYING HE WAS GLAD TO BE BACK AND HE HOPED HE WOULD MAKE
SOME PROGRESS IN HIS DISCUSSIONS. MISTER BUTLER IS CARRYING WHAT
HE CALLS A ROADMAP AIMED AT SPEEDING UP THE EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE
WHAT HE BELIEVES TO BE A CONSIDERABLE ARSENAL OF IRAQI WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION.
THE CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR PRESENTED A REPORT LAST WEEK IN WHICH
HE ACKNOWLEDGED IRAQ HAS MADE SOME PROGRESS, BUT SAID THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT IS STILL WITHOLDING INFORMATION ABOUT ITS BIOLOGICAL
AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS AND SOME OF ITS BALLISTIC MISSILES.
THE UNITED NATIONS MUST CERTIFY THAT IRAQ HAS COMPLIED WITH THE
U-N DEMANDS BEFORE IT WILL END ECONOMIC SANCTIONS THAT ARE
CRIPPLING THE IRAQI ECONOMY.
IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ CRITICIZED THE REPORT,
SAYING THE UNITED NATIONS REFUSES TO BE CONVINCED THAT IRAQ HAS
DISPOSED OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. HE ACCUSED THE U-N
SPECIAL COMMISSION OF PLAYING A POLITICAL GAME IN ORDER TO
MAINTAIN THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, WHICH HE SAID IS THE POLICY OF
THE U-S AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SAYS IT HAS FULFILLED ALL U-N DEMANDS AND IT
IS TIME TO END THE SANCTIONS. IT HAS SENT DIPLOMATS TO NUMEROUS
FOREIGN CAPITALS TO PRESS ITS CASE AND BRING PRESSURE ON THE
UNITED NATIONS. IT ALSO HAS LAUNCHED A MEDIA CAMPAIGN AIMED AT
DEMONSTRATING THAT THE SANCTIONS ARE HURTING THE IRAQI PEOPLE,
CAUSING GENERAL MALNOURISHMENT AND AN INCREASE IN INFANT
MORTALITY.
/// REST OPT ///
THE IRAQI NEWS MEDIA THURSDAY REPORTED THE LATEST U-N MISSION,
CRITICIZING LAST WEEK'S REPORT AND ECHOING THE GOVERNMENT'S CALLS
FOR AN END TO THE SANCTIONS.
THE AL THAWRA NEWSPAPER OF THE RULING BAATH PARTY ACCUSED THE U-N
INSPECTOR OF FOLLOWING A POLITICAL AGENDA, AS DID THE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF THE AL-JUMHURIA NEWSPAPER, FALAH AL-NUKHTAR
(IN AN INTERVIEW WITH V-O-A ARABAIC SERVICE REPORTER JUMANA
TAMIMI).
THE BABEL NEWSPAPER, WHICH IS OWNED BY THE SON OF PRESIDENT
SADDAM HUSSEIN, WAS MORE BLUNT, ASKING, WAS IT NOT TIME TO STOP
BEING COURTEOUS TO THE CHIEF INSPECTOR?
AS A RESULT, MANY OBSERVERS ARE EXPRESSING PESSIMISM OVER THE
OUTCOME OF THE VISIT AND APREHENSION THAT IT MAY LEAD TO A
STANDOFF SIMILAR TO THE ONE EARLIER THIS YEAR. THAT STANDOFF
CAUSED THE U-S AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS TO THREATEN AIR STRIKES
AGAINST IRAQ AND BUILD UP THEIR MILITARY FORCES IN THE REGION.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH/GE
11-Jun-98 9:25 AM EDT (1325 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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