DATE=10/2/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239623
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ HELD ANOTHER ROUND
OF TALKS WITH U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TODAY (FRIDAY) IN
NEW YORK. BUT THERE ARE NO INDICATIONS OF A BREAKTHROUGH IN
THEIR DISPUTE OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. V-O-A'S MAX
RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.
TEXT: MR. AZIZ AND U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SPOKE FOR
LESS THAN AN HOUR AT U-N HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK. IT WAS THEIR
THIRD FORMAL MEETING SINCE MR. AZIZ ARRIVED IN NEW YORK AT THE
START OF THE WEEK.
U-N OFFICIALS SAY A NUMBER OF CLARIFICATIONS WERE SOUGHT AND
OBTAINED DURING THE MEETING. THEY SAY MR. ANNAN INDICATED HE
WOULD MEET WITH MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL NEXT WEEK AND
WISHES TO MEET AGAIN WITH THE IRAQI DELEGATION ON WEDNESDAY.
EARLIER THIS WEEK, AIDES TO MR. ANNAN SHOWED SOME OPTIMISM ABOUT
THE TALKS, WHICH ARE AIMED AT CONVINCING IRAQ TO LIFT ITS
SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION WITH THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION
COMMISSION, UNSCOM. IRAQ ORDERED THE SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION
WITH UNSCOM AMID CHARGES THAT UNSCOM IS DELIBERATELY REFUSING TO
RECOGNIZE IRAQI PROGRESS IN THE DISARMAMENT PROCESS.
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL SAYS THE IRAQI SUSPENSION IS
UNACCEPTABLE AND MUST BE LIFTED BEFORE ANY CONSIDERATION CAN BE
GIVEN TO THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR.
MR. ANNAN HAS PROPOSED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE INSPECTION
PROCESS AS A MEANS FOR CLEARING UP IRAQ'S ALLEGATIONS. BUT HE
SAYS IRAQ MUST FIRST RESUME COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM ... A
CONDITION IRAQ HAS SO FAR PUBLICLY REFUSED.
THE TALKS BETWEEN MR. AZIZ AND THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL COME
AMID IRAQI CALLS FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INTEGRITY OF
UNSCOM. IRAQ CLAIMS UNSCOM IS SERVING AS AN ESPIONAGE TOOL FOR
THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL, PROVIDING THEM WITH INFORMATION TO
BE USED FOR MILITARY AGGRESSION. UNSCOM DENIES THAT CHARGE,
SAYING IT ANSWERS ONLY TO THE UNITED NATIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
02-Oct-98 5:46 PM EDT (2146 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
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