DATE=6/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234483
TITLE=NERVE GAS CONFIRMATION (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS' CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR HAS CONFIRMED
HIS TEAM DISCOVERED TRACES OF DEADLY V-X NERVE GAS ON IRAQI
MISSILES, RAISING NEW QUESTIONS ABOUT IRAQ'S CLAIMS TO HAVE
ELIMINATED ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON
REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.
TEXT: REPORTS OF THE DISCOVERY OF V-X NERVE GAS ON IRAQI
MISSILES FIRST APPEARED EARLIER THIS WEEK IN THE WASHINGTON POST
NEWSPAPER. AT THE TIME, U-S AND BRITISH DIPLOMATS SAID IF THE
REPORTS ARE TRUE, IT WOULD BE A SERIOUS SETBACK FOR IRAQ'S
EFFORTS TO HAVE SANCTIONS, IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR, LIFTED.
MR. BUTLER HAS NOW CONFIRMED THE REPORTS, SAYING THERE IS
ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION ABOUT THE ACCURACY OF THE TESTS CARRIED
OUT BY HIS TEAM ON THE DEGRADED REMNANTS OF IRAQI MISSILE
WARHEADS.
/// BUTLER ACT ///
THESE DEGRADATION PRODUCTS COULD BE FROM NO OTHER
SUBSTANCE. THAT QUESTION WAS POSED IN THE COUNCIL
..."COULD THERE HAVE BEEN A MIXUP?" THE ANSWER IS "NO."
THESE ARE UNIQUE PRODUCTS. THEY WERE OF V-X, THEY WERE
FOUND IN A MUNITION, NAMELY A MISSILE WARHEAD. THAT IS
WEAPONIZATION.
/// END ACT ///
IRAQ HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED REPORTS THAT IT MOUNTED V-X NERVE GAS
ON MISSILE WARHEADS. IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY ERRORS MUST HAVE BEEN
MADE IN THE TESTING PROCESS AT A U-S MILITARY LABORATORY. MR.
BUTLER SAYS FURTHER TESTS WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN FRANCE AND
SWITZERLAND.
MR. BUTLER FORMALLY BRIEFED THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY ON
THE NERVE GAS REPORTS AND OTHER WEAPONS ISSUES, AS PART OF THE
COUNCIL'S PERIODIC REVIEW OF SANCTIONS ON IRAQ. SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS REQUIRE THAT U-N INSPECTORS VERIFY IRAQ NO LONGER
HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BEFORE SANCTIONS CAN BE
LIFTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/MMK
24-Jun-98 2:56 PM EDT (1856 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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