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DATE=1/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244084
TITLE=IRAQ / ALBRIGHT (L
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:   U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE WILLING TO DISCUSS CHANGES TO
THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION MISSION IN IRAQ, BUT THEY SAY, 
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ MUST STAY IN PLACE UNTIL WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS ARE ABLE TO DO THEIR JOB.  FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, 
VOA'S KYLE KING REPORTS. 
TEXT:   U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY DO NOT BELIEVE ANY OF THE MAJOR 
POWERS SUPPORT A LIFTING OF U-N SANCTIONS -- UNTIL SADDAM HUSSEIN
HAS MET THE OBLIGATIONS SPELLED OUT IN U-N SECURITY COUNCIL 
RESOLUTIONS. 
BUT WITH IRAQ REFUSING TO ALLOW WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO DO THEIR 
WORK, THERE ARE GROWING INDICATIONS THAT SOME CHANGES TO THE U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTION PROGRAM WILL BE NECESSARY. 
FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA, ALL SAY THE PROGRAM CAN NO LONGER 
FUNCTION IN ITS PRESENT FORM.  THE FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER, WHO 
HAS BEEN HOLDING TALKS WITH OFFICIALS IN MOSCOW, SAYS HE PLANS TO
PUSH FOR AN OVERHAUL OF UNSCOM. 
SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT, SPEAKING AT A NEWS CONFERENCE WITH 
THE ARGENTINE FOREIGN MINISTER, SAYS THE UNITED STATES IS WILLING
TO DISCUSS CHANGES TO UNSCOM.  BUT SHE SAYS U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTIONS WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE IN SOME FORM.
                       // ALBRIGHT ACT // 
         WE BELIEVE THAT WHILE ITS IMPORTANT TO DISCUSS HOW WE 
         PROCEED IT IS IMPORTANT THAT UNSCOM NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO 
         CARRY OUT THE DISARMAMENT TASK IT WAS ASSIGNED. 
                          // END ACT //
FRENCH OFFICIALS HAVE NOT REVEALED ALL OF THE CHANGES THEY WILL 
SUGGEST FOR UNSCOM, BUT THERE ARE ALREADY SIGNS OF POSSIBLE 
DISAGREEMENTS TO COME.  BRITISH OFFICIALS ARE QUOTED AS SAYING 
THEY WILL NOT SUPPORT A FRENCH PLAN TO STRIP UNSCOM OF ITS 
DISARMAMENT ROLE IN IRAQ IN FAVOR OF A PURELY MONITORING MISSION.
U-S OFFICIALS SAY IT WOULD BE IRRESPONSIBLE NOT TO LISTEN AND 
DISCUSS NEW IDEAS.  ONE U-S OFFICIAL PUT IT THIS WAY:  WE HAVE 
NEVER SAID WE WILL NOT CHANGE ONE HAIR ON THE HEAD OF UNSCOM, BUT
HE SAID, WHAT IS UP FOR DISCUSSION IS HOW UNSCOM CAN BEST GET THE
JOB DONE. WITHOUT SOME WAY OF VERIFYING THAT SADDAM HUSSEIN HAS 
DESTROYED HIS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, U-S OFFICIALS SAY 
SANCTIONS CAN NOT BE LIFTED.  (SIGNED)
NEB/KK/LTD/PT
12-Jan-99 2:53 PM EST (1953 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.