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DATE=1/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243849
TITLE=U-N / ANNAN / UNSCOM (L - UPDATE)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS DENYING 
REPORTS THAT HE HAS RECEIVED CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, HAS VIOLATED ITS MANDATE 
CONCERNING IRAQ.  CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM OUR 
UNITED NATIONS BUREAU.
TEXT:  MR. ANNAN'S RESPONSE FOLLOWS REPORTS IN TWO MAJOR U-S 
NEWSPAPERS THAT HE HAS BEEN GIVEN CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT UNSCOM
INSPECTORS HELPED COLLECT EAVESDROPPING INTELLIGENCE USED IN 
AMERICAN EFFORTS TO UNDERMINE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.
U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD:
                       /// ECKHARD ACT ///
         WE NOT ONLY HAVE NO CONVINCING EVIDENCE OF THESE 
         ALLEGATIONS; WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE OF ANY KIND.  WE HAVE 
         ONLY RUMORS.  NEITHER THE SECRETARY-GENERAL NOR ANY 
         MEMBER OF HIS STAFF HAS ACCESS TO CLASSIFIED U-S 
         INTELLIGENCE, ALTHOUGH UNSCOM DOES.  THE 
         SECRETARY-GENERAL, THEREFORE, REJECTS THE 
         CHARACTERIZATION OF HIS STATE OF MIND ATTRIBUTED TO 
         SO-CALLED "CONFIDANTS," SUCH AS THAT HE IS CONVINCED OF 
         THINGS, AWARE OF FACTS AND SO ON.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. ANNAN IS ALSO DENYING A SUGGESTION CONTAINED IN AN ARTICLE IN
THE WASHINGTON POST THAT HIS OFFICE LEAKED INFORMATION ABOUT 
UNSCOM TO THE MEDIA IN ORDER TO PRESSURE UNSCOM CHIEF RICHARD 
BUTLER TO RESIGN.
MR. ANNAN'S DENIAL FOLLOWS A SIMILAR STATEMENT FROM MR. BUTLER, 
IN WHICH HE CATEGORICALLY REJECTED ALLEGATIONS THAT UNSCOM HAS 
PROVIDED INTELLIGENCE ASSISTANCE CONCERNING IRAQ TO THE UNITED 
STATES.
                       /// BUTLER ACT ///
         HAVE WE FACILITATED SPYING?  ARE WE SPIES?  ABSOLUTELY 
         NOT.
                         /// END ACT ///
MR. BUTLER SAID HE HAS NO INTENTION OF QUITTING HIS JOB.
UNSCOM WAS CREATED BY THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AFTER THE 1991 
GULF WAR TO VERIFY IRAQ'S CLAIMS THAT IT NO LONGER HAS ANY 
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  THE COUNCIL HAS GIVEN IT 
WIDE-RANGING AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT SURPRISE INSPECTIONS AND 
MONITOR HIGHLY SENSITIVE GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY SITES IN IRAQ. 
BUT IRAQ HAS BARRED UNSCOM FROM OPERATING INSIDE THE COUNTRY 
FOLLOWING U-S AND BRITISH MILITARY STRIKES LAST MONTH.
SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAVE CALLED FOR MR. 
BUTLER'S RESIGNATION.  THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN SAY THEY 
FULLY SUPPORT UNSCOM AND MR. BUTLER'S ROLE AS ITS LEADER.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF
06-Jan-99 1:10 PM EST (1810 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.