DATE=8/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236843
TITLE=U-N - IRAQ / ARMS REVIEW (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TODAY (MONDAY) SENT A
SPECIAL ENVOY TO BAGHDAD TO URGE IRAQ TO RESUME COOPERATION WITH
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS ON THE LATEST
UNITED NATIONS EFFORT TO DEFUSE GROWING TENSION SURROUNDING IRAQ.
TEXT: MR. ANNAN WAS IN LISBON, PORTUGAL, WHEN HE SUMMONED
SPECIAL ENVOY PRAKASH SHAH FOR EMERGENCY CONSULTATIONS.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THOSE TALKS, MR. SHAH RETURNED TO IRAQ. MR.
ANNAN SAYS THE ENVOY IS CARRYING "A VERY FIRM MESSAGE URGING THE
IRAQIS TO CHANGE THEIR POSITION." MR. ANNAN SAYS HE HOPES THE
IRAQI GOVERNMENT WILL LISTEN TO HIS MESSAGE AND, IN HIS WORDS,
"FIND A WAY OUT."
U-N SPOKESMAN JUAN-CARLOS BRANDT, SPEAKING IN NEW YORK MONDAY,
INDICATED THAT SO-CALLED "WAY OUT" COULD INVOLVE AN OVERALL,
IMPARTIAL REVIEW OF THE TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN IRAQ AND
THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM.
/// BRANDT ACT ///
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL, AS YOU KNOW, DISCUSSED WITH THE
COUNCIL PERHAPS A WAY TO HAVE SOME KIND OF OVERALL
REVIEW OF THE RELATIONSHIP THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE
COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ CONCERNING THE REGIME
OF SANCTIONS AND THE SITUATION CONCERNING THE WORK OF
UNSCOM.
/// END ACT ///
TENSION INVOLVING IRAQ BEGAN TO INCREASE LAST WEEK WHEN IRAQ
ACCUSED UNSCOM OF UNFAIRLY DELAYING THE WEAPONS INSPECTION
PROCESS. THAT PROCESS, INCLUDING VERIFICATION THAT IRAQ NO
LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, MUST BE COMPLETED
BEFORE SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR CAN BE LIFTED. IRAQ
WANTS THOSE SANCTIONS LIFTED IMMEDIATELY.
MR. ANNAN LAST WEEK SUGGESTED TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL THAT A
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF SANCTIONS AND INSPECTIONS FACING IRAQ BE
CARRIED OUT. DIPLOMATS SAY MR. ANNAN BELIEVES SUCH A REVIEW
WOULD CLARIFY EXACTLY WHAT, IF ANYTHING, CAN BE DONE TO IMPROVE
THE SITUATION.
AT THE MOMENT, THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF CONFUSION CONCERNING THE
INSPECTION PROCESS. IRAQ ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT IT WAS
SUSPENDING COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM. SINCE THEN IT HAS HALTED
ONLY CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF ITS WORK WITH THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
UNSCOM SAYS THE MONITORING OF SITES ALREADY INSPECTED IS
CONTINUING, BUT NO NEW INSPECTIONS ARE TAKING PLACE.
/// REST OPTIONAL ///
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS DESCRIBED IRAQ'S SUSPENSION OF
COOPERATION WITH THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS AS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,
BUT STOPPED SHORT OF IMPOSING PUNITIVE MEASURES. IRAQ'S
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, NIZAR HAMDOON, ON MONDAY CUT
SHORT HIS HOLIDAY IN IRAQ TO RETURN TO NEW YORK, APPARENTLY TO
HELP IMPROVE (IRAQ'S) COMMUNICATIONS WITH MR. ANNAN AND THE
SECURITY COUNCIL. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/KL
10-Aug-98 2:21 PM EDT (1821 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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