DATE=8/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237096
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY (FRIDAY) DENIED A NEWSPAPER
REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN INTERVENED WITH U-N
WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO DISCOURAGE THEM FROM CARRYING OUT SURPRISE
INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND REPORTS
FROM NEW YORK.
TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION IN CHARGE OF WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ DESCRIBES AS FALSE A REPORT THAT THE
COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BUTLER, ACCEPTED WHAT THE COMMISSION
CALLS "EXTERNAL DIRECTION."
IN A STATEMENT TO REPORTERS, THE COMMISSION -- KNOWN AS UNSCOM --
SAYS ALL POLICY DECISIONS ON ITS ACTIVITIES ARE TAKEN BY THE U-N
SECURITY COUNCIL BUT OPERATIONAL DECISIONS ARE TAKEN BY MR.
BUTLER. THE STATEMENT SAYS MR. BUTLER WOULD FIND IT "INVIDIOUS"
WERE ANY ATTEMPT MADE TO DIRECT HIS OPERATIONAL DECISIONS OR TO
MICRO-MANAGE THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
THE WASHINGTON POST, IN A FRONT-PAGE STORY, SAYS THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION INTERVENED SECRETLY FOR MONTHS TO DISSUADE U-N
WEAPONS TEAMS FROM CARRYING OUT SURPRISE INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ, TO
AVOID A NEW CRISIS WITH THAT COUNTRY. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS A
BRITISH DIPLOMAT ALSO ADVISED MR. BUTLER THAT IT WAS NOT A GOOD
TIME FOR WHAT WOULD BE SEEN BY IRAQ AS A PROVOCATIVE INSPECTION.
ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT ALSO
SPOKE WITH MR. BUTLER AND AS A RESULT, THE SURPRISE INSPECTIONS
WERE CALLED OFF.
/// REST OPT ///
EARLIER THIS MONTH, IRAQ SUSPENDED ITS COOPERATION WITH THE U-N
WEAPONS INSPECTORS, ARGUING THAT IT HAS ALREADY MET ALL
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. A UNITED NATIONS ENVOY HELD TALKS IN
IRAQ THURSDAY WITH IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ AND
TOLD HIM THAT THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS UNANIMOUSLY URGED IRAQ
TO COOPERATE WITH THE INSPECTORS.
EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MR. BUTLER TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT,
BECAUSE OF IRAQ'S REFUSAL TO COOPERATE WITH U-N INSPECTORS, THE
EXAMINATION OF SITES IN IRAQ WHERE BANNED WEAPONS ARE SUSPECTED
OF BEING STORED OR PRODUCED HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO A HALT AND THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSPECTORS' MONITORING ACTIVITIES HAS BEEN
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.
ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST, BEFORE THEIR SURPRISE
INSPECTIONS WERE CANCELLED, THE INSPECTORS HAD PLANNED ON LOOKING
AT TWO SITES WHERE THEY BELIEVED THEY WOULD FIND FORBIDDEN
WEAPONS COMPONENTS AND DOCUMENTS DESCRIBING IRAQI EFFORTS TO
CONCEAL THEM. (SIGNED)
NEB/NY/LSF/JO
14-Aug-98 12:47 PM EDT (1647 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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