DATE=1/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225188
TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (L)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TUESDAY CARRIED OUT ITS THREAT TO
BLOCK THE WORK OF A GROUP OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS, RAISING
FEARS OF ANOTHER INTERNATIONAL CRISIS OVER THE U-N'S EFFORTS TO
VERIFY THE ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS HAS DETAILS.
TEXT: THREE TEAMS OF U-N INSPECTORS IN IRAQ WENT ABOUT THEIR
BUSINESS AS USUAL TUESDAY. BUT THAT WAS NOT THE CASE FOR A
FOURTH GROUP, HEADED BY SCOTT RITTER, A U-S CITIZEN WHO IRAQ HAS
REPEATEDLY ACCUSED OF SPYING.
IRAQI AUTHORITIES FAILED TO PROVIDE MR. RITTER'S TEAM WITH
ESCORTS, EFFECTIVELY DENYING THE U-N EXPERTS ACCESS TO SUSPECTED
WEAPONS SITES.
MR. RITTER, WHO HAS COME UNDER PERSONAL ATTACK IN THE
STATE-CONTROLLED BAGHDAD NEWS MEDIA, CALLED THE IRAQI MOVE
UNFORTUNATE. SPEAKING TO REPORTERS OUTSIDE THE U-N COMPOUND, HE
TERMED THE SPY CHARGES AGAINST HIM RIDICULOUS.
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE COMPOSITION OF MR.
RITTER'S TEAM OF INSPECTORS, SAYING IT INCLUDES TOO MANY U-S AND
BRITISH CITIZENS.
BAGHDAD ACCUSES WASHINGTON AND LONDON OF MANIPULATING THE
INSPECTION PROCESS TO GATHER INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION, AND TO
PROLONG THE U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, IN EFFECT SINCE THE IRAQI
INVASION OF KUWAIT SEVEN-AND-A-HALF YEARS AGO.
SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS STIPULATE THAT THE SANCTIONS CAN
ONLY BE LIFTED AFTER THE U-N HAS VERIFIED THE ELIMINATION OF
IRAQ'S NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS, AS WELL
AS THE DESTRUCTION OF ITS LONG-RANGE MISSILES.
THE HEAD OF THE U-N ARMS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMAT RICHARD
BUTLER, SAID LATE MONDAY IRAQ HAS NO RIGHT TO DICTATE THE
COMPOSITION OF THE INSPECTION TEAMS.
THERE WAS A SIMILAR STATEMENT FROM SENIOR AMERICAN OFFICIALS, WHO
ARE DEMANDING A TOUGH U-N RESPONSE TO THE LATEST IRAQI MOVE.
//REST OPT// AS THE SECURITY COUNCIL PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE
SITUATION, THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IT IS ACTIVELY
WORKING TO EASE THE TENSIONS. IT WAS RUSSIAN INTERVENTION THAT
HELPED DEFUSE LAST NOVEMBER'S CRISIS OVER THE WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS, SPARKED BY BAGHDAD'S DECISION TO EXPEL AMERICAN
MEMBERS OF THE U-N COMMISSION.
MOSCOW PERSUADED IRAQ TO RESCIND ITS EXPULSION ORDER IN EXCHANGE
FOR A RUSSIAN PLEDGE TO WORK FOR THE EARLY LIFTING OF THE
ECONOMIC SANCTIONS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/PCF
13-Jan-98 8:47 AM EST (1347 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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