DATE=11/11/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-241547 TITLE=IRAQ / COUNCIL CONCLUDES (L) BYLINE=MAX RUSTON DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HELD A SOMEWHAT TENSE MEETING TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ON THE SITUATION CONCERNING IRAQ, BUT CONCLUDED BY REAFFIRMING ITS DEMAND THAT BAGHDAD RESUME COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS. TEXT: THE COUNCIL MET AT THE REQUEST OF RUSSIA TO DISCUSS THE DECISION BY THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, TO PULL ITS STAFF OUT OF BAGHDAD. RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA OBJECTED TO THE FACT THEY WERE NOT INFORMED OF THE DECISION BEFORE THE PULLOUT TOOK PLACE, BUT DID NOT SPEAK AGAINST THE DECISION ITSELF. DIPLOMATS SAY THE MEETING WAS AT TIMES TENSE, BUT CONCLUDED WITH A UNIFIED CALL FOR IRAQ TO END THE LATEST CRISIS BY RESUMING COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM. THE COUNCIL IS ASKING FOR A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN AS SOON AS HE RETURNS FROM A VISIT TO NORTH AFRICA ON THURSDAY. COUNCIL PRESIDENT PETER BURLEIGH OF THE UNITED STATES: /// BURLEIGH ACT /// THE COUNCIL I THINK WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS FURTHER WITH HIM THE IRAQ PROBLEM THAT FACES THE COUNCIL, THE UNITED NATIONS, WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS HAD ANY RESPONSE TO HIS APPEAL TO THE IRAQI AUTHORITIES THAT WAS ISSUED THIS MORNING, FOR EXAMPLE. ANYTHING HAVING TO DO WITH THE IRAQI CRISIS I THINK. /// END ACT /// COUNCIL MEMBERS INDICATED THEY WILL NOT ASK MR. ANNAN TO INTERCEDE IN THE CRISIS BY TRAVELLING TO BAGHDAD FOR TALKS WITH THE IRAQI PRESIDENT, AS HE DID IN THE LAST CRISIS IN FEBRUARY. DIPLOMATS SAY THE SOLUTION TO THE LATEST CRISIS IS CLEAR ... IRAQ MUST COMPLY WITH COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AND RESUME COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM. THE UNITED STATES IS CONTINUING TO SUGGEST THAT FORCE MAY BE THE ONLY WAY TO RESPOND TO IRAQ'S REFUSAL TO RESUME COOPERATION. RUSSIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR, SERGEI LAVROV, SAYS HE THINKS THE USE FORCE WILL ONLY CAUSE FURTHER INSTABILITY IN THE GULF REGION. /// LAVROV /// OUR POSITION IS THAT THE USE OF FORCE IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION IS GOING TO BE VERY DANGEROUS FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE U-N ABILITY TO KEEP ITS MONITORING CAPACITY IN IRAQ AND ALSO FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE SECURITY IN THE PERSIAN GULF REGION AND THE MIDDLE EAST REGION. /// END ACT /// MR. LAVROV SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE ANY BETTER SUGGESTIONS FOR RESOLVING THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ. BUT HE SAYS HE DOES KNOW THAT THE USE OF FORCE IS, IN HIS WORDS, NOT SUPPORTED BY CALCULATIONS ABOUT WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN NEXT. HE SAYS HE HAS RAISED HIS OBJECTION TO THE USE OF FORCE REPEATEDLY IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND ELSEWHERE AT THE UNITED NATIONS. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/PT 11-Nov-98 8:05 PM EST (0105 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .
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