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03 December 1998

EKEUS WANTS IRAQ WEAPONS INSPECTIONS TO CONTINUE

(Former UNSCOM Chairman optimistic about operations in Iraq now) (590)
By William B. Reinckens
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- Rolf Ekeus, former Chairman of the UN Special Commission
on Destruction of Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM), says "We must
be able to outwait Saddam Hussein, to be patient, and insist he give
up his weapons."
In remarks at a Capitol Hill luncheon December 3, Ekeus, who directed
UNSCOM activities for six years, said he is optimistic about UNSCOM
operations inside Iraq now that they have been resumed after a
showdown with the United Nations in November over Iraq's refusal to
allow inspections.
Ekeus noted that UNSCOM's mandate is to identify and eliminate weapons
of mass destruction and their delivery means. It is also authorized to
set up a system for ongoing monitoring and verification to prevent
Iraq from acquiring the means of producing nuclear weapons and their
delivery systems.
The UN's efforts in Iraq have been mostly successful, Ekeus said, and
he hopes the world will remain focused on the basic issues of
identifying and eliminating Iraq's weapons.
He stressed that Iraq must comply with all relevant U.N. resolutions
and abide by the agreement it signed at the end of the Gulf War in
1991.
Valuable time has been lost to the inspections process because of the
interruptions to UNSCOM inspections, Ekeus said. He added that over
the years, UNSCOM has developed important working relationships with
other countries who monitor Iraq's activities and "we know a great
deal about what goes on inside the country."
Ekeus noted that the new round of inspections being conducted by
UNSCOM inspectors are being aided because UNSCOM has developed ways of
monitoring how Iraq spends its money. "UNSCOM knows the money trail
now," he said.
UNSCOM's methodical analysis of Iraq's capability to produce weapons
of mass destruction, Ekeus said, includes such activities as
monitoring international shipments of components and ingredients that
might be useful in producing weapons of mass destruction. "UNSCOM
needs every document it asks for," he said so that complete profiles
of Iraq's weapons programs can be put together.
"Iraq's ultimate goal is to acquire nuclear weapons," said Ekeus, who
is now Sweden's ambassador to the United States. He does not think
that Iraq has nuclear weapons yet and, he said, UNSCOM and the
Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency are monitoring the
situation continually.
However, he does believe that Iraq still has a small number of
"high-quality" weapons of mass destruction which it keeps hidden
inside the country.
Iraq's desire to acquire chemical, biological or nuclear weapons is
driven by its quest to be a regional player who influences "its
neighbors through fear, as Saddam Hussein rules Iraq itself through
terror," said Ekeus.
Ekeus said that during his time in Iraq, he held many discussions with
Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz about how Iraq views its standing in
the world. He said Iraq wants to be a counterbalance to Iran and to be
the "Arab gateway to the Persians."
Saddam Hussein wants to dominate the energy-rich states of the Gulf,
he said, adding that "Iraq loves crises ... It gives Hussein standing
when the international community pays attention to him."
"UNSCOM is sharper and has better methods," Ekeus said about the
UNSCOM inspectors who are back in Iraq and performing on-site
inspections. "We do not have to reset the clock," he said, referring
to the loss of a hundred days when Iraq was closed to inspections.