• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=6/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234409
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N TALKS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS WEDNESDAY TO 
DISCUSS IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS.  THE MEETING FOLLOWS REPORTS 
THAT IRAQ'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM IS MORE ADVANCED THAN 
ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.  V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM OUR UNITED 
NATIONS BUREAU. 
TEXT:  CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER WILL BRIEF THE 
SECURITY COUNCIL ON HIS EFFORTS TO VERIFY IRAQ'S CLAIM THAT IT 
HAS ELIMINATED ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  THE MEETING WAS 
ORIGINALLY EXPECTED TO FOCUS ON MR. BUTLER'S VISIT TO IRAQ FROM 
JUNE 11TH TO 15TH.  BUT THAT VISIT HAS NOW BEEN OVERSHADOWED BY 
THE DISCOVERY OF NEW INFORMATION ABOUT IRAQ'S PRODUCTION AND USE 
OF DEADLY V-X NERVE GAS.
/// BEGIN OPT /// WEAPONS INSPECTORS DISCOVERED THAT BEFORE THE 
1991 GULF WAR IRAQ DEVELOPED THE ABILITY TO STORE V-X NERVE GAS 
AND PUT IT ON MISSILE WARHEADS, DESPITE IRAQ'S DENIALS THAT IT 
EVEN HAD A V-X MISSILE PROGRAM. /// END OPT ///
THE BRIEFING FROM MR. BUTLER COMES AHEAD OF A PERIODIC REVIEW OF 
INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS ON IRAQ, IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR.  
THOSE SANCTIONS CANNOT BE LIFTED UNTIL U-N INSPECTORS VERIFY IRAQ
NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  BRITISH 
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS JOHN WESTON SAYS THE NERVE GAS 
DISCOVERIES REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF A THOROUGH VERIFICATION 
PROCESS.
                       /// WESTON ACT ///
         I THINK WE ARE REMINDED BY THIS KIND OF THING THERE CAN 
         BE NO QUARTER GIVEN ON THIS SUBJECT, NO ROOM FOR 
         BENEFITS OF THE DOUBT.  WHAT WE NEED ARE HARD FACTS AND 
         CLEAR ANSWERS TO HARD QUESTIONS.
                         /// END ACT ///
IRAQ ON TUESDAY DENIED PRODUCING V-X NERVE GAS OR FILLING ANY 
MUNITIONS WITH SUCH GAS.  A STATEMENT FROM THE IRAQI MISSION TO 
THE UNITED NATIONS EXPRESSES ASTONISHMENT THAT WEAPONS INSPECTORS
WANT TO REVIEW THE ISSUE OF NERVE GAS.  THE STATEMENT SAYS IRAQ 
BELIEVES THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A MISTAKE IN THE TESTING PROCESS 
USED BY WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  IT SAYS THE INSPECTORS HAVE FAILED 
TO COOPERATE WITH IRAQ'S REQUEST THAT THE SAMPLES BE RETESTED IN 
A NEUTRAL COUNTRY.  (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
23-Jun-98 5:25 PM EDT (2125 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.