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DATE=6/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234482
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ WEAPONS (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS HOLDING TALKS 
(WEDNESDAY) ON IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS, FOLLOWING NEW DISCOVERIES
ABOUT THAT COUNTRY'S CHEMICAL WEAPONS CAPABILITIES.  V-O-A'S MAX 
RUSTON REPORTS FROM OUR UNITED NATIONS BUREAU.
TEXT:  THE COUNCIL RECEIVED ITS BRIEFING FROM CHIEF U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER.  IT COVERED MR. BUTLER'S TALKS IN IRAQ 
EARLIER THIS MONTH, DURING WHICH A TWO-MONTH WORK SCHEDULE WAS 
ESTABLISHED TO CLEAR UP QUESTIONS ABOUT IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.  IT ALSO COVERED REPORTS OF EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT 
IRAQ'S V-X NERVE GAS CAPABILITY IS MORE ADVANCED THAN ORIGINALLY 
THOUGHT -- AN ISSUE WHICH HAS STRENGTHENED THE RESOLVE OF SOME 
COUNTRIES TO MAINTAIN SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.
U-S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS BILL RICHARDSON:
                     /// RICHARDSON ACT ///
         AMBASSADOR BUTLER'S BRIEFING TODAY IN OUR VIEW SHOWED 
         IRAQI PROGRESS ON JUST ONE FRONT.  THAT IS THEY HAVE 
         AGREED TO A PLAN OF WORK FOR THE NEXT TWO MONTHS.  WE 
         SAW LITTLE PROGRESS IN THE AREAS OF ELIMINATING 
         CONCEALMENT, THE AREAS OF PROVIDING DOCUMENTS, WE SAW 
         LITTLE PROGRESS ON MISSILES AND ON BIOLOGICAL AND 
         CHEMICAL WEAPONS.  WE SAW CONTINUED IRAQI INTRANSIGENCE,
         DENIALS.  SO OUR VIEW IS THAT THIS WAS ONCE AGAIN AN 
         EXAMPLE OF IRAQI LACK OF COOPERATION WITH THE U-N 
         INSPECTION. TEAM.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. RICHARDSON DENIED IRAQI CHARGES THAT THE UNITED STATES IS 
USING THE V-X NERVE GAS ISSUE TO POLITICIZE THE WEAPONS 
INSPECTION PROCESS.  HE ALSO DISMISSED STATEMENTS FROM IRAQ 
RAISING DOUBTS ABOUT THE INTEGRITY OF WEAPONS TESTS CARRIED OUT 
AT U-S MILITARY LABORATORIES.
ALSO ON WEDNESDAY, WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER GAVE 
JOURNALISTS THE FIRST PUBLIC CONFIRMATION THAT HIS TEAM 
DISCOVERED TRACES OF V-X NERVE GAS.  HE SAID THERE IS NO QUESTION
ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE TESTS, WHICH, HE SAID, SHOWS THAT IRAQ 
SUCCEEDED IN PUTTING THE GAS ON MISSILE WARHEADS, DESPITE 
SPECIFIC DENIALS FROM IRAQ THAT IT DID SO.  (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF
24-Jun-98 2:24 PM EDT (1824 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.