DATE=1/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225144
TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT MONDAY ANNOUNCED IT IS HALTING THE
WORK OF A TEAM OF UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS, HEADED BY AN
AMERICAN CITIZEN. MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS
REPORTS THE MOVE RAISES THE SPECTER OF A FRESH CONFRONTATION
BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.
TEXT: A BRIEF DISPATCH FROM THE OFFICIAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY
MONDAY SAYS THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO BLOCK ACTIVITIES BY ONE
TEAM OF U-N INSPECTORS HEADED BY SCOTT RITTER, A U-S CITIZEN
BAGHDAD HAS REPEATEDLY ACCUSED OF SPYING.
THE NEWS AGENCY DISPATCH SAYS THE BAN WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON
TUESDAY, AND REMAIN IN FORCE UNTIL THE COMPOSITION OF THE U-N
TEAM IS MORE BALANCED.
//OPT// OVER THE WEEKEND, IRAQ COMPLAINED THAT MR. RITTER'S TEAM
OF ARMS INSPECTORS INCLUDES TOO MANY U-S AND BRITISH CITIZENS.
//END OPT//
BAGHDAD ALLEGES THAT WASHINGTON AND LONDON ARE MANIPULATING THE
INSPECTIONS FOR ESPIONAGE PURPOSES, AND TO PROLONG THE U-N
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ -- IN EFFECT SINCE ITS INVASION
OF KUWAIT SEVEN-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO.
MR. RITTER, A RETIRED MARINE CORPS OFFICER, WAS AMONG THE U-S
MEMBERS OF THE ARMS COMMISSION EXPELLED FROM IRAQ LAST NOVEMBER.
THE EXPULSIONS TOUCHED OFF A MAJOR INTERNATIONAL CRISIS AND
PROMPTED AN AMERICAN MILITARY BUILD-UP IN THE GULF REGION.
THE CRISIS EASED A WEEK LATER, AFTER BAGHDAD RESCINDED THE
EXPULSION ORDER AT THE URGING OF THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.
REACTING TO THE LATEST IRAQI MOVE, U-S OFFICIALS SAID BAGHDAD
MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO DICTATE THE COMPOSITION OF THE U-N TEAMS.
AND THEY SAID THE INSPECTORS MUST BE ALLOWED TO COMPLETE THEIR
TASK OF VERIFYING THE ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION.
ALTHOUGH THE INSPECTIONS HAVE PROCEEDED WITHOUT INCIDENT SINCE
THE END OF THE NOVEMBER CRISIS, IRAQ IS STILL DENYING THE
INSPECTORS ACCESS TO DOZENS OF SENSITIVE SITES, INCLUDING
PRESIDENTIAL COMPOUNDS.
//REST OPT// THE HEAD OF THE WEAPONS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN
DIPLOMAT RICHARD BUTLER, HAS SAID THE INSPECTORS MUST BE ALLOWED
TO VISIT ANY SITES WHERE THEY SUSPECT IRAQ IS CONCEALING MATERIAL
OR DOCUMENTS RELATED TO ITS NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL
WEAPONS PROGRAMS.
THAT ISSUE HAD BEEN EXPECTED TO DOMINATE MR. BUTLER'S TALKS WITH
IRAQI OFFICIALS IN BAGHDAD, SCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEK.
WHAT IMPACT MONDAY'S IRAQI ANNOUNCEMENT WILL HAVE ON THE PLANNED
MEETING REMAINS TO BE SEEN. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF
12-Jan-98 12:50 PM EST (1750 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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