DATE=11/18/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41898
TITLE= U-N / IRAQ
BYLINE= ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE BACK TO WORK IN IRAQ AFTER
ANOTHER CRISIS WAS AVERTED -- BUT ONLY AFTER A LAST MINUTE
BACKDOWN FROM BAGDHAD IN THE FACE OF U-S MILITARY ACTION.
V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA SPOKE WITH TWO FORMER U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS ABOUT THE CRISIS -- AND HE FILED THIS REPORT FROM
WASHINGTON.
TEXT: JUST A FEW DAYS GO, IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN AVERTED AN
AMERICAN ATTACK AFTER PROMISING TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH UNITED
NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS KNOWN AS '"UNSCOM."
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE IRAQI PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULD
COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE U-N -- AND IT IS NOT THE FIRST CRISIS
PITTING THE UNITED NATIONS AGAINST BAGDHAD. LAST FEBRUARY, U-N
SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN DEFUSED TENSIONS AFTER TRAVELING TO
BAGDHAD.
FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR TIM TREVAN SAYS THAT WHILE U-S
MILITARY STRIKES HAVE BEEN PREVENTED ONCE AGAIN, THE FUNDAMENTAL
REASONS FOR THE CONTINUING CRISES ARE STILL THERE.
// TREVAN ACT //
THE UNITED NATIONS - OBVIOUSLY SUPPORTED MAINLY BY THE
U-S - IS STILL DEMANDING THAT IRAQ GET RID OF ALL ITS
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU
HAVE IRAQ STILL NOT COOPERATING WITH THE U-N. THEY MAY
WELL BE SAYING: "RIGHT. YOU CAN HAVE UNFETTERED ACCESS"
- BUT THEY ARE STILL NOT OFFERING THE INFORMATION,
NOT OFFERING UP THE MATERIAL AND THE EQUIPMENT THAT
NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED TO THE U-N. SO I SHOULD EXPECT
THAT THIS CRISIS WILL RE-EMERGE IN SOME FORM OR OTHER AS
SOON AS THE MILITARY THREAT IN THE (UNITED) STATES
DIMINISHES.
// END ACT //
MR. TREVAN SAYS WHAT THE CURRENT CRISIS HAS DONE IS TO GET U-N
INSPECTORS BACK INTO IRAQ WITH GREATER SUPPORT FROM THE SECURITY
COUNCIL.
// 2ND TREVAN ACT //
THERE CLEARLY IS THE WILL WITHIN THE SECURITY COUNCIL -
AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED
KINGDOM - TO FORCE IRAQ TO COMPLY THROUGH MILITARY MEANS
IF NECESSARY. SO NOW 'UNSCOM' IS IN A POSITION TO GO
AHEAD AND DO REALLY INTRUSIVE INSPECTIONS, KNOWING THAT
IT DOES HAVE THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY SUPPORT OF THE
COUNCIL BEHIND IT. // OPT // YOU WILL RECALL THAT BACK
IN FEBRUARY, THERE REALLY WAS NOT THE STOMACH (WILL)
FOR MILITARY ACTION AMONG OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
(SECURITY) COUNCIL. SO I THINK PERHAPS BY LETTING THIS
PARTICULAR CRISIS FESTER FOR LONG ENOUGH, THE U-S
ALLOWED THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO GET SO FED
UP WITH IRAQ THAT THEY ALL ACQUIESCED TO THE PROPOSAL
FOR MILITARY ACTION. // END OPT //
// END ACT //
ANOTHER FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR - COLONEL TERRY TAYLOR -
SAYS THE PRESENCE OF INSPECTORS IN IRAQ IS ESSENTIAL. HE
DESCRIBES THE RESOLUTION OF THE CURRENT CRISIS AS "THE LEAST
WORST OUTCOME."
// TAYLOR ACT //
THERE IS NO GOOD OUTCOME IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT I
THINK IT IS BETTER TO HAVE INSPECTORS ON THE GROUND IN
IRAQ RATHER THAN NOT HAVE ANYBODY ON THE GROUND AND
PERHAPS (IN) SOME WAY HAVE IRAQ FENCED IN AND ALLOWED TO
GET ON WITH WHATEVER IT WANTS TO DO WITH ITS WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAMS, REGENERATE THEM AND SO ON --
AND HOPE BY STANDING AROUND THE OUTSIDE, TO SOMEHOW
CONTAIN THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP.
// END ACT //
COLONEL TAYLOR SAYS U-N INSPECTORS STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO
DO, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. BUT THE FORMER
WEAPONS INSPECTOR SAYS THERE ARE OTHER AREAS "UNSCOM" MUST
INSPECT.
// 2ND TAYLOR ACT //
THERE IS MORE TO BE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
PROGRAM, IN PARTICULAR RELATING TO THE FOUR THOUSAND
TONS OF PRE-CURSOR CHEMICALS - THAT'S CHEMICALS NEEDED
FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF "V-X" NERVE AGENT, WHICH HAVE
NOT BEEN PROPERLY ACCOUNTED FOR. AND WE KNOW, OF
COURSE, THAT THEY DID WEAPONIZE (I.E. TURNED THE NERVE
AGENT INTO WEAPONS) THAT PARTICULAR LETHAL NERVE AGENT.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE TO BE FOUND ABOUT THE NUCLEAR
PROGRAM'S SUPPLY NETWORK, AND CERTAINLY MORE TO
UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE MISSILE PROGRAM. IN PARTICULAR,
NOT ALL THE MISSILES - "SCUD" MISSILES - HAVE BEEN
ACCOUNTED FOR.
// END ACT //
COLONEL TERRY TAYLOR SAYS THE ONGOING STRUGGLE BETWEEN IRAQ AND
THE UNITED NATIONS IS A TEST OF WILLS -- AND IT IS A REAL
CHALLENGE FOR THE LEADERS OF DEMOCRATIC STATES. HE SAYS
"UNSCOM'S" WORK COULD BE DONE RELATIVELY QUICKLY IF IRAQ
GENUINELY DECIDES TO COOPERATE FULLY. OTHERWISE, HE FEELS THERE
WILL BE MORE CRISES AHEAD WITH MORE THREATS OF MILITARY ACTION.
(SIGNED)
(EDS: IN THE NEXT REPORT, THE FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TALK
ABOUT THEIR WORK AND CONSIDER WHETHER "UNSCOM'S" WORK IS
SUCCESSFUL.
NEB/ADEN/GE
18-Nov-98 12:48 PM EST (1748 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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