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29 July 1998

US SAYS IRAQ STILL NOT COOPERATING WITH NUCLEAR INSPECTORS

(Richardson sees no reason to close nuclear file) (450)
By Judy Aita
USIA United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- US Ambassador to the United Nations Bill Richardson
has dismissed efforts to end intrusive nuclear inspections in Iraq
because Baghdad is still not providing the UN with needed data on its
nuclear weapons programs.
Speaking to reporters after a private Security Council meeting July
29, Richardson said that based on the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) report of Iraq's nuclear weapons program, "there is
absolutely no reason, ... for the Security Council to take any action
favorable to Iraq."
He said the report "makes it absolutely clear that Iraq has made no
progress; that it has failed to provide information on weapons design,
on uranium enrichment, on nuclear experts. Accordingly, there is no
reason to close the nuclear file."
In a written report to the Security Council July 27, IAEA said that it
had not found any evidence that Iraq has officially abandoned its
secret nuclear program. IAEA said that while it has no evidence that
Iraq has any nuclear weapons materials, the international community
should assume that Iraq has kept documents, "specimens of important
components," and a has cadre of experts that could be used to re-start
its program.
IAEA said "Iraq has the knowledge and the technical capability to
exploit, for nuclear weapons purposes, any relevant materials or
technology to which it may gain access in the future."
The report was requested by the United States and others after some
council members sought to stop the IAEA inspections. IAEA is
responsible for overseeing the destruction of Iraq's nuclear weapons
capabilities while the Special Commission (UNSCOM) concentrates on
Iraq's chemical, biological and ballistic missile programs that also
have been banned as part of the Gulf War cease-fire agreement.
The Security Council will not lift current stringent economic
sanctions against Baghdad until it is certain Iraq has no weapons of
mass destruction or ability to reacquire them.
Iraqi Ambassador Nizar Hamdoon said that the IAEA report shows Iraq is
not engaged in nuclear weapons activities. "The whole file should be
moving into the monitoring phase" now instead of waiting until the
next disarmament/sanctions review in October, he said.
Richardson said that the United States opposes Russia's proposal to
"close the file" on Iraq's nuclear weapons, and that he believes that
will be the Security Council position "at the end of the day".
Closing the file would end IAEA intrusive inspections and move to a
long-term monitoring program that involves watching specific nuclear
sites in Iraq. It would be the first step in the process to lift
sanctions.