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DATE=6/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234172
TITLE=U-N - IRAQ / DISPUTES (L - ONLY) 
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THERE ARE NEW SIGNS OF DIFFICULTY IN IRAQ'S RELATIONSHIP 
WITH THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL CONCERNING ISSUES OF DISARMAMENT 
AND OIL SALES.  V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON 
REPORTS.
TEXT:  EARLIER THIS WEEK, IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ 
DECLARED TO THE PRESS THAT A BREAKTHROUGH HAD BEEN REACHED IN HIS
TALKS WITH THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM, UNSCOM.  BUT A NEW 
REPORT RELEASED THURSDAY BY UNSCOM CHAIRMAN RICHARD BUTLER RAISES
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT CLAIM AND INDICATES INCREASED PROSPECTS FOR 
RENEWED TENSION IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
MR. BUTLER VISITED BAGHDAD FROM JUNE 11TH TO 15TH FOR TALKS WITH 
MR. AZIZ ON UNSCOM EFFORTS TO VERIFY IRAQ'S ASSERTION THAT IT NO 
LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  SUCH VERIFICATION IS
THE KEY REQUIREMENT FOR LIFTING SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.
IN HIS REPORT ON THE VISIT, MR. BUTLER SAYS IRAQ REFUSED 
IMMEDIATE DISCUSSIONS ON MANY IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THE 
VERIFICATION PROCESS, INCLUDING ASPECTS OF ITS PROGRAMS FOR NERVE
GAS AND MISSILE PROPELLANTS, AND THE RELEASE OF CERTAIN 
WEAPONS-RELATED DOCUMENTS.  IF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT RESOLVED 
SOON, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT SANCTIONS WILL BE LIFTED AT THE NEXT 
SECURITY COUNCIL REVIEW IN OCTOBER.
IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY IF SANCTIONS ARE NOT LIFTED AT THAT TIME, A 
NEW CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST COULD DEVELOP.
THERE ARE ALSO SIGNS OF TENSION BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE SECURITY 
COUNCIL CONCERNING THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS BAGHDAD 
TO EXPORT LIMITED QUANTITIES OF OIL IN EXCHANGE FOR HUMANITARIAN 
SUPPLIES.  IRAQI AMBASSADOR NIZAR HAMDOON SAYS SOME COUNCIL 
MEMBERS, IN A REVIEW NOW UNDERWAY, ARE TRYING TO TURN THE PROGRAM
INTO A SUBSTITUTE FOR SANCTIONS.
                       /// HAMDOON ACT ///
         FROM THE BEGINNING, FROM THE SIGNING OF THIS MEMORANDUM 
         OF UNDERSTANDING FOR THIS OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM, WHICH 
         HAS ALWAYS STRESSED THE TEMPORARY NATURE OF THE PROGRAM.
         NOW THE EFFORT IS BEING DONE BY SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS TO 
         TRY TO GIVE IT AN ONGOING NATURE AND THIS IS WHY IRAQ 
         STANDS FIRM ON THIS AND WE HAVE TOLD THEM THAT IRAQ IS 
         NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS SITUATION IF IT DEVELOPS.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. HAMDOON INDICATES IRAQ MIGHT STOP ABIDING BY SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS ON SANCTIONS AND OTHER MATTERS IF IT IS NOT SATISFIED
WITH THE REVIEW OF THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM.
IRAQ SAYS SECURITY COUNCIL SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR 
ARE UNFAIR AND UNWARRANTED AND ARE CAUSING ENORMOUS SUFFERING FOR
ORDINARY IRAQI PEOPLE.  SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THE 
SANCTIONS ARE SPECIFICALLY TARGETED AT IRAQ'S GOVERNMENT AND 
MILITARY.  (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/RRM 
18-Jun-98 4:52 PM EDT (2052 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.