UNITED24 - Make a charitable donation in support of Ukraine!

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=9/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-238379
TITLE=SECURITY COUNCIL/ IRAQ (L-O)
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   IN NEW YORK TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY IN SUPPORT OF A REVISED RESOLUTION SUSPENDING 
THE REVIEW OF SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. CORRESPONDENT BARBARA 
SCHOETZAU REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.  
TEXT:   THE RESOLUTION CALLS FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE SIX-MONTH 
SANCTIONS REVIEW UNTIL BAGHDAD RESUMES COOPERATION WITH 
INTERNATIONAL INSPECTION TEAMS LOOKING FOR WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION IN IRAQ. BY SUSPENDING THE REVIEW SCHEDULED FOR 
OCTOBER, THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS, ESSENTIALLY, LEAVING SANCTIONS 
IN PLACE INDEFINITELY.
IRAQ ANNOUNCED ITS SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION WITH WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS ON AUGUST 5TH, SAYING ITS WEAPONS FILES SHOULD BE 
CLOSED AND INTRUSIVE INSPECTIONS SHOULD END.   
THE NEW SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION CONDEMNS IRAQ'S AUGUST 5TH 
ANNOUNCEMENT AND DEMANDS THAT BAGHDAD RESCIND THE DECISION AND 
BEGIN COOPERATING WITH THE INSPECTION TEAMS IMMEDIATELY.  
BUT THE RESOLUTION ALSO INCLUDES A NEW ELEMENT -- A COMPREHENSIVE
REVIEW OF IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH THE GULF WAR CEASEFIRE DEMANDS. 
IN THE RESOLUTION, THE SECURITY COUNCIL ALSO INVITED SECRETARY 
GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TO  EXPRESS HIS VIEWS ON THE SITUATION. THE 
ADDITIONS WERE ADDED TO THE RESOLUTION AT THE INSISTENCE OF CHINA
AND FRANCE TO OFFER SOME ENCOURAGEMENT TO IRAQ. 
SPEAKING WITH REPORTERS BEFORE THE VOTE, IRAQ'S AMBASSADOR TO THE
UNITED NATIONS, NIZAR HAMDOON SAID THE MORE PROMINENT A ROLE THE 
SECRETARY GENERAL PLAYS IN THE SITUATION, THE MORE INTERESTED 
IRAQ BECOMES. 
THE UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL, PETER 
BURLEIGH, SAYS THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO 
IRAQ TO COOPERATE WITH THE WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAMS OR FACE 
CONTINED SUSPENSIONS OF SANCTIONS REVIEWS.
                     //// BURLEIGH ACT ////
         IT IS AN IMPORTANT RESOLUTION. WE HOPE THE IRAQIS WILL 
         TAKE IT IN THE SPIRIT IN WHICH IT WAS INTENDED BY THE 
         COUNCIL, WHICH IS THAT THERE IS AN URGENT NEED BY IRAQ 
         TO CHANGE ITS POLICY AND COME BACK INTO COMPLIANCE. THIS
         IS THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL THAT THE IRAQI 
         SIDE IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT. AND IT IS THE ONLY ROUTE 
         TO THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS. THAT IS, THEY HAVE TO  
         COMPLY FIRST AND THEN CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO OTHER 
         ISSUES. 
                         /// END ACT ///
AMBASSADOR BURLEIGH SAYS THE UNITED NATIONS AND THE UNITED STATES
WANT THE INSPECTION TEAMS BACK ON THE GROUND IN IRAQ DOING THEIR 
JOBS WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM BAGHDAD. (SIGNED)
NEB.NY/BJS/PT
09-Sep-98 6:31 PM EDT (2231 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.





NEWSLETTER
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list