DATE=8/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236401
TITLE=IRAQ / BUTLER ARRIVES (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER HAS ARRIVED IN
IRAQ TO ASSESS PROGRESS IN ELIMINATING WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE
EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THE VISIT COMES AMID IRAQI THREATS TO TAKE
ACTION IF THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ARE NOT LIFTED.
TEXT: THE CHIEF U-N ARMS INSPECTOR ARRIVED (SUNDAY) IN BAGHDAD
AT THE HEAD OF A DELEGATION OF 19 INSPECTORS. HE WAS QUOTED BY
THE IRAQI NEWS AGENCY AS SAYING HE HOPED HIS VISIT WOULD BRING
GOOD RESULTS.
BEGINNING MONDAY, HE IS TO HOLD TWO-DAYS OF MEETINGS WITH IRAQI
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ TO DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF
PROGRESS IN A PROGRAM AIMED AT BRINGING AN END TO ECONOMIC
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ.
MR. BUTLER ANNOUNCED THE PROGRAM SIX-WEEKS AGO DURING A SIMILAR
VISIT, WHICH WAS HAILED AS POSITIVE BY BOTH U-N AND IRAQI
OFFICIALS. AT THAT TIME, HE SAID IF THE COOPERATION CONTINUED HE
HOPED TO BE ABLE TO DECLARE IRAQ IN COMPLIANCE WITH U-N DEMANDS,
WHICH WOULD BE A MAJOR STEP TOWARD LIFTING THE SANCTIONS THAT
HAVE CRIPPLED THE IRAQI ECONOMY.
BUT SINCE THEN RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT HAVE SOURED. A U-S BASED LABORATORY DISCOVERED TRACES
OF A DEADLY NERVE AGENT IN AN IRAQI MISSILE WARHEAD, LEADING TO
RENEWED ACCUSATIONS THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN MISLEADING THE
INSPECTORS.
IRAQ DENIED THE CHARGE AND ACCUSED THE UNITED NATIONS OF SEEKING
TO PROLONG THE INSPECTIONS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE SANCTIONS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT LAUNCHED A DIPLOMATIC
OFFENSIVE AIMED AT CONVINCING U-N MEMBERS IT WAS COMPLYING WITH
THE INSPECTIONS PROGRAM AND THE SANCTIONS WERE CAUSING SEVERE
HUMAN SUFFERING AMONG IRAQI CIVILIANS.
/// REST OPT.///
THE U-N INSPECTORS WERE GREETED (SUNDAY) BY A BARRAGE OF
CRITICISM FROM THE IRAQI NEWS MEDIA. THE GOVERNMENT
"JOUMHOURIYA" NEWSPAPER ACCUSED THE TEAM, AND IN PARTICULAR ITS
AMERICAN MEMBERS, OF TELLING LIES IN ORDER TO CREATE A CRISIS
BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS. THE NEWSPAPER OF THE RULING
BAATH PARTY, "AL-THAWRA", SAID IRAQI'S DOUBT MR. BUTLER'S
CREDIBILITY AND THE HONESTY OF THE U-N COMMISSION ON IRAQ.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IT WILL TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES IF
THE SANCTIONS ARE NOT LIFTED. IT HAS CALLED FOR A SPECIAL
SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT MONDAY TO DISCUSS ITS RESPONSE.
(SIGNED)
NEB/SB/RAE
02-Aug-98 1:27 PM EDT (1727 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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