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Following is the statement of Gen. Amer Al-Saadi on the falsifications contained in CNN's "News Stand" of Sunday 29 November 1998:

On the evening of Sunday, 29 November 1998, CNN took an old story settled with the Special Commission (UNSCOM) in 1996 and presented it, with a new dramatization, as a topical issue.

First, the gyros: In December 1995, news of gyros broke out when the Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Tariq Aziz, was in New York.  He assured Mr. Ekeus at the time that the Government of Iraq is not involved in that and suggested forthwith to conduct a joint investigation about it, which was duly carried out.  UNSCOM met the middleman, Wiam Gharibya, and others involved , and all the documents requested by UNSCOM were provided.  The conclusion was that Iraq was not involved and that the whole story was an unauthorized individual act.

The second topic presented in the program , titled "Operation Teacup," the facts are that a delegation headed by Dr.  Hamid Khalil Ibrahim Al-Azawi did travel to Romania in May 1998, but not for the purpose of obtaining prohibited materials ot technology.  The purpose was to settle outstanding matters regarding a contract made in 1995 for materials, which was known to UNSCOM and were subjected to its Ongoing Monitoring and Verification (OMV) system.  Also, the group were interested in some forging and precision-casting technologies for parts, which Iraq is permitted to produce according to Security Council resolution 687(1991).

UNSCOM knows very well that there is a project for a missile under development, of a range less than 150 Kilometers.  All the work sites are under constant monitoring.  UNSCOM inspectors witness all tests performed, static and flight tests.  Furthermore, there is Ongoing Monitoring of imports in accordance with Security Council resolution 1051 (1996), which stipulates that UNSCOM is to be informed about any dual-use items procured by Iraq, and no violation has been recorded in that regard.   Scott Ritter, the author of the so-called concealment theory, who has failed during his past inspection missions to find any evidence of a proscribed activity, is now trying to portray himself as a Rambo-style hero for personal reasons and serve Israeli political objectives.

CNN's "News Stand" of Sunday 29 November 1998 is regrettably tendentious, baseless and full of distortions as part of the hostile media against Iraq.