DATE=8/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236958
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY TO IRAQ IS DUE THURSDAY IN BAGHDAD
FOR TALKS AIMED AT RESUMING THE SUSPENDED ARMS INSPECTION PROGRAM
IN IRAQ. BUT CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THERE ARE
INDICATIONS THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO DEMAND AN END
TO ECONOMIC SANCTIONS BEFORE IT WILL RESUME COOPERATION.
TEXT: ONE OF IRAQ'S MOST INFLUENTIAL NEWSPAPERS WEDNESDAY
INDICATED DIFFICULT DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN U-N SPECIAL ENVOY PRAKASH
SHAH AND IRAQI OFFICIALS. THE BABEL NEWSPAPER -- WHICH IS OWNED
BY THE SON OF PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN -- SAID IRAQ CAN NO
LONGER TOLERATE WHAT IT CALLED PARTIAL COMPROMISES AND
SETTLEMENTS. IT SAID THE LEAST IRAQ CAN ACCEPT IS THE CLOSURE OF
THE FILE ON THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS PROGRAM.
THE NEWSPAPER SAID IRAQ APPRECIATES THE GOODWILL OF U-N
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IN SENDING THE SPECIAL ENVOY. BUT
IT SAID THE ONLY WAY TO DEFUSE THE CURRENT DISPUTE IS TO END
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS THAT HAVE SEVERELY HURT THE IRAQI ECONOMY.
/// OPT /// MR. ANNAN SAID MONDAY HE WAS SENDING THE SPECIAL
ENVOY, ADDING HE WOULD CARRY A FIRM MESSAGE URGING THE IRAQI
GOVERNMENT TO RESUME COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED NATIONS. MR.
ANNAN ALSO SUGGESTED A REVIEW OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTION PROGRAM
AND GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT IN THE PROCESS.
/// END OPT ///
IRAQ SUSPENDED COOPERATION WITH THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION LAST
WEEK AFTER TALKS COLLAPSED BETWEEN IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
TARIQ AZIZ AND CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER. THE
TALKS BROKE OFF WHEN MR. BUTLER REFUSED TO CERTIFY IRAQ HAS
ELIMINATED ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
/// REST OPT ///
IRAQI OFFICIALS ACCUSED THE U-N INSPECTORS OF SEIZING ON DETAILS
IN ORDER TO PROLONG THE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS AND MAINTAIN THE
SANCTIONS. MR. BUTLER AT THAT TIME SAID IRAQ WAS CLOSER THAN
EVER TO COMPLIANCE, AND WITH CONTINUED COOPERATION COULD REACH
THAT GOAL WITHIN WEEKS. HE CHARACTERIZED THE SUSPENSION AS A
SETBACK, BUT NOT A CRISIS.
THE UNITED NATIONS SAID SUNDAY IT IS ENDING ALL INSPECTIONS,
WHICH IT CHARACTERIZED AS VISITS TO NEW SITES BY ITS TEAMS. BUT,
IT SAID MONITORING OF PREVIOUSLY IDENTIFIED WEAPONS SITES WOULD
CONTINUE.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT CONTINUES ITS CAMPAIGN TO HAVE THE SANCTIONS
ENDED. AN IRAQI NEWSPAPER MONDAY QUOTED THE IRAQI HEALTH
MINISTER (UMEED MIDHAT MUBARAK) AS SAYING NEARLY
ONE-AND-ONE-HALF-MILLION IRAQIS HAVE DIED AS A RESULT OF THE
SANCTIONS SINCE THEY WERE IMPOSED SEVEN-YEARS AGO, AND THE DEATH
RATE OF YOUNG CHILDREN HAS INCREASED TEN-FOLD. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/JWH/RAE
12-Aug-98 10:55 AM EDT (1455 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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