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DATE=1/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243910
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / UNSCOM (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THERE ARE SIGNS OF GROWING CONCERN AT THE UNITED NATIONS 
(THURSDAY) ABOUT CONTINUING REPORTS THAT THE U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, HELPED THE UNITED STATES SPY ON 
IRAQ.  V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT:  U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI 
ANNAN IS TAKING NOTE OF THE LATEST NEWS REPORTS CONCERNING 
UNSCOM.   HE SAYS THE U-N CHIEF IS HOLDING REGULAR HIGH-LEVEL 
TALKS WITH U-S OFFICIALS.  BUT HE SAYS IT IS TOO EARLY TO REACH 
ANY CONCLUSIONS.
                       /// ECKHARD ACT ///
         THE REPORTS IN TODAY'S [THURSDAY] PAPERS TEND TO LEND 
         MORE CREDENCE TO THESE ALLEGATIONS.  I DO  NOT  THINK 
         ANYTHING YET IS PROVEN, SO IT IS STILL TOO SOON TO MAKE 
         FIRM JUDGMENTS.  U-S SECRETARY-OF-STATE ALBRIGHT CALLED 
         THE SECRETARY-GENERAL YESTERDAY [WEDNESDAY] MORNING AND 
         THEY DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE, AND I THINK YOU CAN PROBABLY 
         SAFELY ASSUME THAT THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL CONTINUE AS 
         THE STORY UNFOLDS.
                         /// END ACT ///
U-S NEWSPAPERS HAVE QUOTED UNNAMED U-S INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS AND
AIDES TO MR. ANNAN AS SAYING THAT UNSCOM HAS ASSISTED THE UNITED 
STATES IN SPYING ON IRAQ.
U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS THE REPORTS ARE EMBARRASSING TO 
MR. ANNAN.  HE SAYS MR. ANNAN DOES  NOT  KNOW WHO, IF ANYONE, 
FROM THE UNITED NATIONS SPOKE TO REPORTERS ABOUT THE ISSUE.  HE 
SAYS THE REPORTS HAVE DISTRACTED ATTENTION FROM WHAT HE DESCRIBES
AS THE CENTRAL ISSUE -- THE DISARMAMENT OF IRAQ.
THE NEWS REPORTS HAVE FUELED IRAQ'S CALLS FOR DISBANDING UNSCOM. 
THE INSPECTION COMMISSION WAS FORMED AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR TO 
VERIFY IRAQ'S CLAIMS THAT IT NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.  UNSCOM WAS CREATED BY AND ANSWERS TO THE SECURITY 
COUNCIL.
MR. ANNAN HAS, IN THE PAST, EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT UNSCOM AND 
ITS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BUTLER.  BUT MR. ECKHARD SAYS 
REPORTS THAT MR. ANNAN IS TRYING TO PRESSURE MR. BUTLER TO RESIGN
ARE  NOT  TRUE.
MR. BUTLER'S APPOINTMENT AS CHIEF OF UNSCOM EXPIRES LATER THIS 
YEAR.  THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN SUPPORT MR. BUTLER.  BUT 
SEVERAL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL SAY THEY WOULD LIKE
TO SEE SOMEONE ELSE TAKE HIS PLACE.   (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW
07-Jan-99 4:35 PM EST (2135 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.