DATE=9/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239494
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / INSPECTIONS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQ TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ISSUED A NEW CALL FOR THE LIFTING
OF SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR, BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY
NEW PROPOSALS FOR ENDING THE CURRENT DEADLOCK OVER U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS. CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED
NATIONS.
TEXT: IN A SPEECH TO THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IRAQI FOREIGN
MINISTER MOHAMMED SA'ID AL-SAHAF DENOUNCED THE U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL FOR MAINTAINING SANCTIONS AGAINST HIS COUNTRY. HE
REPEATED HIS GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM IT HAS MET ALL DISARMAMENT
CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS.
SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE SAID THE U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, HAS FAILED TO REPORT ACCURATELY
ABOUT IRAQ TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND APPEARED TO BLAME
WASHINGTON FOR THAT ALLEGED FAILURE.
/// AL-SAHAF INTERPRETER ACT ///
THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE TO DO SO IS POLITICAL. THE
SPECIAL COMMISSION AND ITS CHAIRMAN OPERATE UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF AN ARROGANT, POWERFUL STATE THAT IS
PURSUING POLITICAL ULTERIOR MOTIVES AGAINST IRAQ. THESE
ARE MOTIVES THAT HAVE NO RELEVANCE WHATSOEVER TO
SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS RELEVANT TO IRAQ.
/// END ACT ///
MR. AL-SAHAF PLEDGED TO COOPERATE WITH U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI
ANNAN'S PROPOSAL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE INSPECTION
PROCESS. BUT HE FAILED TO OFFER ANY NEW SUGGESTIONS FOR
RESOLVING A DISPUTE WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY IS CAUSING A NEW CRISIS
CONCERNING IRAQ.
THE DISPUTE WAS TRIGGERED BY IRAQ'S SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION
WITH UNSCOM, AMID CHARGES UNSCOM HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE PROGRESS
MADE IN DISARMAMENT AREAS. THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESPONDED BY
SUSPENDING THE SANCTIONS REVIEW PROCESS.
MR. AL-SAHAF'S COMMENTS COME AMID NEWS REPORTS IN THE UNITED
STATES THAT AS RECENTLY AS 1997, IRAQ MANAGED TO MANUFACTURE
SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS DEVICES -- DESCRIBED AS SHELLS FOR NUCLEAR
WEAPONS -- DESPITE SANCTIONS AND WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.
"THE WASHINGTON POST" NEWSPAPER QUOTES U-S GOVERNMENT AND U-N
SOURCES AS SAYING WITH THE ADDITION OF ENRICHED URANIUM CORES,
THE DEVICES COULD BE TURNED INTO 20-KILOTON NUCLEAR WEAPONS. THE
IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER DID NOT COMMENT ON THOSE REPORTS.
(SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/RAE
30-Sep-98 1:18 PM EDT (1718 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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