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DATE=1/30/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244891
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ REVIEW (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS (SATURDAY) AGREED ON A FIRST 
STEP TOWARD RESOLVING DIVISIONS OVER HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON 
ISSUES CONCERNING IRAQ.  V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX
RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT:  THE COUNCIL HAS AGREED TO ESTABLISH THREE PANELS TO 
COMPILE AND REVIEW INFORMATION ON DISARMAMENT, HUMANITARIAN AND 
PRISONER-OF-WAR ISSUES CONCERNING IRAQ.  
THE COUNCIL STATEMENT ANNOUNCING THE PLAN DOES NOT SAY EXACTLY 
WHAT THE INFORMATION WILL BE USED FOR.  BUT DIPLOMATS SAY THEY 
HOPE IT WILL HELP THE COUNCIL OVERCOME DIVISIONS OVER HOW TO 
ENSURE THAT IRAQ DOES NOT BUILD OR DEPLOY WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.  THEY SAY IT IS A MODEST FIRST-STEP IN THAT 
DIRECTION.
RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE WANT SANCTIONS AND DISARMAMENT 
INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ EASED OR LIFTED, AS DOES IRAQ.  THE UNITED 
STATES AND BRITAIN ARE AGAINST THE RELAXATION OF THOSE MEASURES, 
SAYING IRAQ STILL POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO THE REGION AND THE 
WORLD.
THE PANELS WILL BE CHAIRED BY BRAZIL'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED 
NATIONS AND REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE 
COUNCIL NO LATER THAN APRIL 15TH.
THE COUNCIL AGREEMENT FOLLOWS SEVERAL WEEKS OF OFTEN-HEATED 
DISCUSSIONS.  THE DISCUSSIONS BEGAN AFTER THE UNITED STATES AND 
BRITAIN CARRIED OUT MILITARY STRIKES ON IRAQ IN DECEMBER AND 
BAGHDAD ENDED ALL COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.
THE PROPOSAL FOR ESTABLISHING INFORMATION PANELS AS A FIRST STEP 
OUT OF THE DEADLOCK WAS MADE BY CANADA.  DISCUSSIONS WERE 
PROLONGED BY DISAGREEMENTS OVER WHAT ROLE THE U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, SHOULD PLAY IN THE COLLECTION OF 
DISARMAMENT INFORMATION.  RUSSIA HAS BEEN STRONGLY OPPOSED TO ANY
ROLE BY UNSCOM.  THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN REMAIN STRONG 
SUPPORTERS OF UNSCOM AND ITS CHIEF, RICHARD BUTLER.
UNDER THE AGREEMENT REACHED SATURDAY, UNSCOM WILL BE ONE OF 
SEVERAL U-N AND OTHER AGENCIES PROVIDING INFORMATION AND 
EXPERTISE TO THE PANEL ON DISARMAMENT.  (SIGNED)
NEB/MPR/CBL/RRM
30-Jan-99 5:30 PM EST (2230 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.