DATE=6/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233945
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N MONDAY (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAVE AGREED ON A TWO-MONTH
PROGRAM AIMED AT DETERMING WHETHER IRAQ HAS DESTROYED ALL ITS
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD
BUTLER AND IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ MONDAY
ANNOUNCED AGREEMENT ON WHAT WAS CALLED A WORK SCHEDULE AFTER TWO
DAYS OF MEETINGS IN BAGHDAD, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT SCOTT
BOBB FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.
TEXT: CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER TOLD REPORTERS
MONDAY HE PLANS TO RETURN TO BAGHDAD IN AUGUST AND HOPES HE WILL
SUBSEQUENTLY BE ABLE TO REPORT TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL THAT
IRAQ HAS COMPLIED WITH U-N DEMANDS TO DESTROY ALL ITS PROHIBITED
WEAPONS. HE ADDED THAT THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF HIS MISSION
WILL DEPEND ON THE QUALITY OF THE WORK CARRIED OUT IN THE NEXT
TWO MONTHS.
///BUTLER ACT.///
MY ESTIMATION IS THAT THAT WORK WILL BE OF A HIGH
QUALITY WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF COOPERATION AND WORK
TOGETHER BY BOTH SIDES. SO IT IS MY HOPE THAT WE WILL BE
ENTERING PRECISELY THOSE SORTS OF REPORTS IN OCTOBER.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BUTLER MADE THE REMARKS AFTER TWO DAYS OF MEETINGS WITH IRAQI
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ. MR. AZIZ, IN A RARE APPEARANCE
WITH THE U-N OFFICIAL, CALLED THE TALKS FRUITFUL AND SAID THEY
WERE BUSINESSLIKE AND PROFESSIONAL.
///REST OPT.///
MR. BUTLER'S NEXT REPORT IS DUE IN OCTOBER. HE MUST CERTIFY
IRAQI HAS DISMANTLED ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BEFORE THE
SECURITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER LIFTING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS
(AGAINST IRAQ).
IRAQ COMPLAINS THAT THE U-N INSPECTORS ARE PROLONGING THEIR WORK
IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE SANCTIONS, WHICH IT SAYS HAVE CAUSED
HUNDREDS OF DEATHS DUE TO DISEASE AND MALNUTRITION.
U-N SOURCES INDICATE THE INSPECTORS SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED FOR
THE MOST PART THAT IRAQ HAS DESTROYED MISSILE WARHEADS THAT COULD
DELIVER CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. HOWEVER, U-N INSPECTORS
REPORTEDLY ARE NOT CONVINCED IRAQ HAS ENDED PRODUCTION OF
THOSE.
MR. BUTLER SAID HE TOLD IRAQI OFFICIALS HOW TO PROVE THEIR CLAIM
THAT THEY HAVE COMPLIED WITH U-N DEMANDS.
///2ND BUTLER ACT.///
YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SHOW US PHYSICAL MATERIAL
SOMETIMES. BUT IF YOU COULD SHOW US THE RELEVANT
DOCUMENT, A DIRECTION TO PRODUCE A CERTAIN WEAPON OR A
DIRECTION TO DESTROY IT. THAT WOULD HELP US VERIFY YOUR
CLAIM THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THOSE WEAPONS ANYMORE.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BUTLER THEN FLEW TO KUWAIT TO BRIEF OFFICIALS THERE ON WHAT
HE CALLED HIS VERY IMPORTANT TALKS IN BAGHDAD.
THE KUWAITI GOVERNMENT IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT IRAQ MAY
STILL HAVE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. MOST OTHER NATIONS IN
THE REGION, HOWEVER, BELIEVE IRAQ'S MILITARY MACHINE HAS BEEN
SUFFICIENTLY WEAKENED AND THAT THE SANCTIONS SHOULD BE LIFTED
BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAILED TO BRING ABOUT A CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT
AND, INSTEAD, HAVE BROUGHT UNDUE HUMAN SUFFERING IN IRAQ.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/KL
15-Jun-98 12:06 PM EDT (1606 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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