DATE=10/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240967
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ DISARMAMENT (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HAS MOVED FORWARD
WITH MEASURES TODAY (FRIDAY) AIMED AT ENDING THE DEADLOCK WITH
IRAQ OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS. DIPLOMATS SAY THE MEASURES COULD
OPEN THE WAY FOR A NEW REVIEW OF IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON
REPORTS.
TEXT: THE COUNCIL COMPLETED A FINAL DRAFT OF A LETTER TO THE U-N
SECRETARY GENERAL OUTLINING ITS RESPONSE TO PROPOSALS FOR A
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH A SERIES OF
COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS. THE RESOLUTIONS, APPROVED AFTER THE GULF
WAR, DEAL PRIMARILY WITH REQUIREMENTS THAT IRAQ DEMONSTRATE IT NO
LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
THE LETTER SAYS THE REVIEW COULD BEGIN WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME
AFTER IRAQ RESUMES COOPERATION WITH THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION
COMMISSION, UNSCOM, AND THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY.
IRAQ SUSPENDED COOPERATION WITH THOSE AGENCIES IN AUGUST TO
PROTEST WHAT IT DESCRIBED AS THEIR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
RELUCTANCE TO RECOGNIZE IRAQI PROGRESS IN THE DISARMAMENT PROCESS
-- A CHARGE THE TWO AGENCIES DENY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT JEREMY GREENSTOCK OF BRITAIN SAYS THE LETTER
PREPARED BY THE COUNCIL PROVIDES ASSURANCES CONCERNING THE BASIC
STRUCTURE OF THE REVIEW.
/// GREENSTOCK ACT ///
I AM NOT PRETENDING THAT THIS LETTER WOULD SOLVE EVERY
DETAIL OF THE POINTS THAT WOULD COME UP UNDER A
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND IN ANY CASE IS NOT AGREED BY
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AS THE TIME TO DO THAT, SO YOU
WOULD HAVE TO EXPECT THERE TO BE MORE DISCUSSION OF
DETAILS OF PRECISE CRITERIA AND PRECISE AREAS.
/// END ACT ///
IRAQ SAYS IT SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF THE REVIEW, BUT SUSPECTS THAT
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN WILL USE IT AS A TOOL TO FURTHER
CRITICIZE IRAQ. IRAQ CLAIMS TO HAVE FULFILLED ALL REQUIREMENTS
SET OUT IN THE RESOLUTIONS REQUIRED FOR THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS
IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR. BUT U-S OFFICIALS AND U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS SAY THERE ARE STILL MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
CONCERNING IRAQ'S CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS. THEY
SAY IRAQ IS WITHHOLDING INFORMATION NEEDED IN THE INSPECTION
PROCESS.
THE LETTER SAYS THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WOULD BE DIVIDED INTO
TWO PARTS. THE FIRST PART FOCUSING ON DISARMAMENT ISSUES, THE
SECOND ON MISSING KUWAITI PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING KUWAITI
PROPERTY. THE LETTER SAYS IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD
OUTLINE CLEARLY IN EACH PHASE REMAINING STEPS TO BE TAKEN BY IRAQ
TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS WITH THE RESOLUTIONS -- AN APPARENT
RESPONSE TO IRAQ'S CHARGE THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A CLEAR
OUTLINE OF WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/BA/JO
30-Oct-98 3:40 PM EST (2040 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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