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DATE=1/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244041
TITLE=BUTLER/UNSCOM (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  CHIEF UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER 
INSISTED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE IRAQ INSPECTION PROGRAM IS NOT 
DEAD AND SAID HE WILL NOT RESIGN HIS POST.  HE REPEATED HIS 
DENIAL THAT THE WEAPONS PROGRAM WAS USED FOR SPYING.  VOA'S GIL 
BUTLER HAS MORE ON THE STORY. 
TEXT:  RICHARD BUTLER SPOKE AT A WASHINGTON CONFERENCE ON 
DISARMAMENT AND NON PROLIFERATION.   HE SAID THE UNITED NATIONS 
COMMISSION ON IRAQ--OR UNSCOM-- IS READY TO GO BACK TO WORK WHEN 
A SOLUTION IS FOUND TO THE CURRENT CRISIS THAT BEGAN WHEN IRAQ 
STOPPED COOPERATING WITH U-N INSPECTORS.
                       /// BUTLER ACT ///
         UNSCOM IS NOT DEAD.  UNSCOM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN NEW 
         YORK WHERE WE MAINTAIN A UNIQUE ARCHIVE--ABSOLUTELY 
         UNIQUE ARCHIVE--OF IRAQ'S PROHIBITTED WEAPONS OF MASS 
         DESTRUCTION PROGRAM.
                         /// END ACT ///
UNSCOM AND MR. BUTLER IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN UNDER INCREASING 
PRESSURE FROM SOME SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE RUSSIA AND 
FRANCE.
SEVERAL AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS LAST WEEK PRINTED  ALLEGATIONS THAT 
AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE INSTITUTIONS HELPING UNSCOM HAD USED 
INFORMATION GATHERED BY THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES.
RICHARD BUTLER REPEATED HIS DENIAL OF THE REPORTS.  HE SAID ALL 
ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO UNSCOM WAS USED ONLY FOR ITS DISARMAMENT 
DUTIES.  IN ANSWER TO A QUESTION, HE SAID HE WILL NOT RESIGN HIS 
POST AS SOME HAVE CALLED FOR. 
MR. BUTLER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS LIKELY TO 
MAKE CHANGES IN UNSCOM, BUT HE SAID HE DOES NOT BELIEVE THE 
COUNCIL WILL ABANDON THE GOAL OF  ELIMINATING IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF 
MASS DESTRUCTION. 
                       /// BUTLER ACT ///
         IT'S AN ESSENTIAL OBJECTIVE, I THINK THAT OUR WORK BE 
         PRESERVED.  THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SITTING IN JUDGEMENT ON 
         THAT AND WILL BE TAKING THE POLICY DECISIONS ARE THE 
         MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  I CAN ONLY REPEAT 
         AGAIN--I DON'T SEE THEM WANTING TO DEVIATE FROM THE 
         FUNDAMENTAL TASK.
                         /// END ACT ///
THE U-N OFFICIAL SAID HE HAS NOT HEARD ANYONE SAYING THERE SHOULD
NOT BE INSPECTIONS OR THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IS GIVING 
UP ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS ON IRAQ.(SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/PT
11-Jan-99 4:26 PM EST (2126 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.