DATE=12/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243363
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / MORNING AFTER (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL ARE
MEETING PRIVATELY IN NEW YORK TODAY (MONDAY) TO DISCUSS IRAQ.
THEY ARE TRYING TO REPAIR DIVISIONS OVER MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST
THAT COUNTRY AND REACH A CONSENSUS ON WHAT TO DO NEXT CONCERNING
IRAQ. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: ARRIVING AT U-N HEADQUARTERS MONDAY, SECRETARY-GENERAL
KOFI ANNAN SAID THE FACT THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS DIVIDED IS NOT
HELPFUL. HE HOPES ITS MEMBERS WILL FIND A WAY TO WORK TOGETHER
IN THE WEEKS TO COME.
THE MAIN DIVISION EXISTS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN ON
ONE SIDE AND RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA ON THE OTHER. RUSSIA,
FRANCE AND CHINA OPPOSED MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ AND HAVE
CALLED FOR A LESS AGGRESSIVE STRATEGY TOWARDS THAT COUNTRY.
A CENTRAL PART OF THAT STRATEGY IS THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION
COMMISSION, UNSCOM, WHICH WAS CREATED BY THE COUNCIL TO ENSURE
IRAQ NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WASHINGTON
AND LONDON SAY THEY SUPPORT THE CURRENT STRUCTURE OF UNSCOM, AND
ITS DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMAT RICHARD BUTLER. BUT SEVERAL
OTHER COUNTRIES WANT TO CHANGE THE STRUCTURE AND POSSIBLY REPLACE
MR. BUTLER.
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN:
/// ANNAN ACT ///
YOU HAVE ALL HEARD THE DISCUSSIONS GOING ON -- SEVERAL
GOVERNMENTS SAYING WE NEED A NEW STRUCTURE, WE NEED A
NEW INSPECTION MECHANISM. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT
MEANS. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THAT ENTAILS. AND I DO NOT
KNOW WHAT KIND OF STRUCTURE THEY HAVE IN MIND. BUT IT
WILL EMERGE AFTER THE DISCUSSIONS.
/// END ACT ///
FRANCE HAS BEEN AMONG THE COUNTRIES MOST VOCAL IN CALLING FOR
CHANGES IN UNSCOM. FRENCH OFFICIALS SAY UNSCOM HAS SOMETIMES
SERVED AS AN OBSTACLE IN EFFORTS TO WORK OUT POLITICAL SOLUTIONS
TO THE IRAQI DISARMAMENT PROCESS. FRENCH AMBASSADOR TO THE
UNITED NATIONS ALAIN DEJAMMET:
/// DEJAMMET ACT ///
WE NEED SOMETHING WHICH IS REALLY PROFESSIONAL AND
EXCLUSIVELY INTERESTED OF COURSE IN MONITORING
DISARMAMENT AND THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO RECONSTRUCTION
OF MASS DESTRUCTION WEAPONRY IN IRAQ.
/// END ACT ///
DESPITE THE DIVISIONS OVER THE STRUCTURE OF UNSCOM AND WHETHER
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN WERE JUSTIFIED IN CARRYING OUT
MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ, COUNCIL MEMBERS DO AGREE ON ONE
KEY ISSUE. THAT IS THAT IRAQ MUST ABIDE BY THE TERMS OF
RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AFTER THE GULF WAR REMOVING ITS ABILITY TO
ACQUIRE OR DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE DISAGREEMENT
IS OVER HOW TO REACH THAT COMMON GOAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF
21-Dec-98 12:03 PM EST (1703 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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