DATE=1/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-225360
TITLE=U-S/IRAQ PULLOUT (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS IS WITHDRAWING AN AMERICAN-LED WEAPONS
INSPECTIONS TEAM THAT HAS BEEN THE FOCUS OF THE LATEST
CONFRONTATION WITH THE SADDAM HUSSEIN GOVERNMENT. THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT "RESPECTS" THE DECISION. V-O-A'S DAVID
GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF, AND
RESPECT, THE U-N DECISION TO REMOVE THE TEAM LED BY AMERICAN
SCOTT RITTER -- WHICH HAS BEEN BARRED FROM OPERATING BY THE
IRAQIS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK.
THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE MULTI-NATIONAL TEAM WOULD APPEAR TO BE AN
ESCALATION OF THE STAKES IN THE LATEST CONFLICT OVER THE
INSPECTORS, IN ADVANCE OF WHAT U-S OFFICIALS SAY WILL BE A
CRITICAL VISIT TO BAGHDAD BY CHIEF U-N INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER.
IRAQ HALTED THE WORK OF MR. RITTER'S TEAM AMID REPORTS IT WAS
LOOKING INTO EVIDENCE IRAQ MAY HAVE USED PRISONERS AS HUMAN
GUINEA PIGS IN RECENT IN CHEMICAL WEAPONS EXPERIMENTS. BAGHDAD
SAYS IT ACTED BECAUSE THE RITTER TEAM IS AMERICAN-DOMINATED AND
BIASED.
PRESIDENT CLINTON EARLIER THURSDAY WELCOMED THE U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL'S UNANIMOUS CONDEMNATION OF THE IRAQI ACTION AND SAID IT
GIVES THE INSPECTIONS CHIEF A STRONG MANDATE FOR HIS BAGHDAD
MISSION:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
MR. BUTLER IS GOING BACK TO IRAQ WITH THE STRONG SUPPORT
OF THE UNITED NATIONS. I AM VERY ENCOURAGED THAT EVEN
THOSE WHO HAD BEEN MORE SYMPATHETIC TO IRAQ SAW THROUGH
THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE ACTION. SO, NOW WE HAVE TO
SEE WHAT HAPPENS. HE OUGHT BE GIVEN ACCESS. HE'S GOING
BACK THERE. HE'S GOT THE SUPPORT OF THE U-N. WE'RE GOING
TO WATCH THIS A DAY AT A TIME AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
///END ACT///
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS SAID DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THE
STANDOFF ARE NEARLY EXHAUSTED. A SIMILAR CRISIS WAS DEFUSED IN
NOVEMBER WHEN IRAQ, AFTER RUSSIAN MEDIATION, RECINDED A MOVE TO
EXPEL AMERICAN INSPECTORS.
OFFICIALS HERE SAY THE U-N'S REASONING IN WITHDRAWING THE RITTER
TEAM IS THAT IT CAN SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE IN IRAQ AFTER BEING
REBUFFED IN AT LEAST TWO ATTEMPTS TO RESUME WORK. THEY SAY THE
DECISION WAS MADE BY THE U-N INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, AND
IS NOT A U-S CONCESSION. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/ENE/PT
15-Jan-98 8:50 PM EST (0150 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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