DATE=1/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243961
TITLE=U-N / U-S / UNSCOM (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION CHIEF RICHARD BUTLER SAYS (FRIDAY)
REPORTS THAT HIS COMMISSION KNOWINGLY HELPED THE UNITED STATES
SPY ON IRAQ ARE FALSE. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX
RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: MR. BUTLER ISSUED A STATEMENT AFTER TALKS WITH SENIOR U-S
OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE U-S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED
NATIONS. IN THE STATEMENT, MR. BUTLER SAYS HE HAS NEVER GIVEN
OPERATIONAL CONTROL OVER THE WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION,
UNSCOM, TO THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY.
MR. BUTLER WAS RESPONDING TO MEDIA REPORTS, QUOTING U-S
INTELLIGENCE OFFICIALS, THAT HE AUTHORIZED WASHINGTON TO USE
UNSCOM TO SPY ON IRAQ.
HE SAID UNSCOM HAS NOT FACILITATED SPYING AND IS NOT COMPOSED OF
SPIES. BUT HE DID NOT SPECIFICALLY REJECT MEDIA REPORTS THAT U-S
INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES HAD USED UNSCOM TO PURSUE THEIR OWN GOALS.
U-S OFFICIALS HAVE PUBLICLY DENIED VIOLATING UNSCOM'S MANDATE.
THEY SAY AMERICAN SUPPORT TO UNSCOM WAS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO
FACILITATE UNSCOM'S NEEDS, AT THE REQUEST OF UNSCOM, AND FOR NO
OTHER PURPOSE.
UNSCOM WAS FORMED BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL AFTER THE 1991 GULF WAR
TO VERIFY IRAQ'S CLAIMS THAT IT NO LONGER HAD WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION. U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS HE DOES NOT
HAVE ANY EVIDENCE THAT UNSCOM VIOLATED ITS MANDATE. BUT HE SAYS
IF THE REPORTS ARE TRUE, IT WOULD BE DAMAGING TO THE UNITED
NATIONS' DISARMAMENT WORK IN IRAQ AND ELSEWHERE. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/RRM
08-Jan-99 4:52 PM EST (2152 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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