DATE=11/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241694
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / SECURITY COUNCIL (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HELD CLOSE TO SEVEN
HOURS OF TALKS ON IRAQ SATURDAY AND PLANS TO CONTINUE MEETING ON
THE ISSUE SUNDAY. THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO REACH A CONSENSUS ON
WHETHER TO ACCEPT IRAQ'S PLEDGE TO RESUME COOPERATION WITH U-N
WEAPONS INSPECTORS. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX
RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: THE MEETING SATURDAY FOCUSSED ON A LETTER FROM IRAQI
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ TO U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI
ANNAN. THAT LETTER PLEDGED UNCONDITIONAL COOPERATION WITH U-N
WEAPONS INSPECTORS -- THE ABSENCE OF WHICH TRIGGERED THE LATEST
CRISIS WITH IRAQ. BUT ATTACHED TO THAT LETTER WAS A LIST OF WHAT
IRAQI OFFICIALS DESCRIBED AS "PREFERENCES." U-S AND BRITISH
DIPLOMATS VIEWED THE LIST AS POTENTIAL CONDITIONS TO THE IRAQI
PLEDGE AND INSISTED ON CLARIFICATION.
AS THE COUNCIL MET LATE SATURDAY, IRAQ'S U-N AMBASSADOR DELIVERED
SEVERAL LETTERS CLARIFYING HIS GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE -- EACH ONE
STATING MORE CLEARLY THERE WOULD BE NO CONDITIONS TO THE PROMISE
OF COOPERATION.
RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE WERE READY TO ACCEPT THAT PLEDGE. THE
UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN FELT IRAQ COULD DO MORE TO STRENGTHEN
IT.
AT THE END OF THE TALKS, U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH SAID HE
WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY COMMENT ON THE MEETING.
/// BURLEIGH ACTUALITY ///
THE ONLY THING I AM GOING TO SAY ABOUT THE U-S POSITION
IS IT WAS VERY CLEARLY AND FORCEFULLY STATED BY THE
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, MR.
BERGER. WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE REPORTING THE STATEMENTS
AND COMMENTS MADE BY OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE SECURITY
COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS THE ELABORATIONS OR
CLARIFICATION OF THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF IRAQ IN
THE COURSE OF THE EVENING.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
IRAQI AMBASSADOR NIZAR HAMDOON DID HAVE COMMENTS TO MAKE. HE
GAVE HIS GOVERNMENT CREDIT FOR CHANGING ITS POLICY IN AN EFFORT
TO AVOID CONFRONTATION.
/// HAMDOON ACTUALITY ///
WHAT I GOT WAS THAT A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DO
APPRECIATE IRAQ'S COOPERATION AND APPRECIATE THE IRAQI
FLEXIBILITY IN TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THIS CRISIS
AND I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL TOMORROW [SUNDAY] WILL COME
OUT WITH A FORTHCOMING STATEMENT THAT WILL HELP UP WITH
THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO REACH OUT TO A PEACEFUL
SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT SITUATION.
/// END ACTUALITY ///
THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS NOW FACED WITH THE TASK OF DECIDING
WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE IRAQI PLEDGE. IF IT DOES ACCEPT IT, THE
NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO REDEPLOY U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN IRAQ,
WHERE THEY WOULD CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE THAT IRAQ
STILL HAS THE CAPABILITY TO DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
DIPLOMATS SAY IT IS ONLY THROUGH LONG-TERM DEPLOYMENT THAT THE
COUNCIL CAN TRULY TEST THE IRAQI PLEDGE OF COOPERATION.
IF THE COUNCIL REJECTS THE IRAQI PLEDGE, THAT COULD CLEAR AWAY
THE LAST MAJOR OBJECTIONS TO U-S MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.
(SIGNED)
NEB / U-N / MPR / LSF / WD
15-Nov-98 2:05 AM EST (0705 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
