DATE=2/10/99
TYPE=NEWS ANALYSIS
NUMBER=5-42573
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ PANELS
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS TAKING A NEW APPROACH THIS
WEEK IN ITS EFFORTS TO GET A COMPLETE PICTURE OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS
PROGRAMS. THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO CREATE THREE SPECIAL PANELS
TO HELP DECIDE THE UNITED NATIONS' NEXT COURSE OF ACTION ON IRAQ.
DIPLOMATS SAY THIS COULD HELP OVERCOME STRONG DISAGREEMENTS AMONG
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS. OUR U-N CORRESPONDENT, MAX RUSTON, HAS A
REPORT.
TEXT: EACH PANEL WILL FOCUS ON COLLECTING INFORMATION AND
PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS ON A SPECIFIC ASPECT OF THE UNITED
NATIONS' RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAQ. ONE PANEL WILL DEAL WITH
PRISONERS OF WAR FROM THE GULF CONFLICT. ANOTHER WILL WORK ON
HUMANITARIAN ISSUES. THE THIRD WILL WORK ON THE MOST DIFFICULT
AND DIVISIVE ISSUE BEFORE THE COUNCIL -- THE DISARMAMENT AND
MONITORING OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS. THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT
BY THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION, "UNSCOM," AND THE INTERNATIONAL
ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, THE I-A-E-A.
CANADA'S DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, MICHEL
DUVAL, WHO SERVED AS ACTING SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN EARLY
FEBRUARY, SAYS THE PANELS SHOULD LAY THE GROUNDWORK TO HELP THE
COUNCIL DEAL WITH THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES.
/// DUVAL ACT ///
WE WANT TO AVOID RAISING THE ISSUES WHICH HAVE TORN THE
COUNCIL APART, WHILE WE PUT TOGETHER THESE PANELS,
HOPING THAT WE CAN GET A GOOD ASSESSMENT OF UNSCOM'S
WORK -- TECHNICAL WORK -- OF THE I-A-E-A'S TECHNICAL
WORK, AND OF OTHER SOURCES, SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH
SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR THE
POLITICAL DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IN THE NEAR
FUTURE.
/// END ACT ///
THE PANELS WILL HAVE UNTIL APRIL 15TH TO COMPILE THEIR FINDINGS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS. AFTER THAT, THE COUNCIL WILL TRY AGAIN TO
DETERMINE HOW TO MONITOR IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS AND WHAT TO DO
ABOUT SANCTIONS. THE COUNCIL TRIED TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES IN
DECEMBER, AFTER THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN LAUNCHED MILITARY
STRIKES IN IRAQ, BUT DIVISIONS WERE DEEP AND NO AGREEMENTS WERE
REACHED.
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN WANT UNSCOM TO CONTINUE ITS
INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ, DESPITE IRAQ'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW IT TO CARRY
OUT ITS WORK THERE. RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA SAY UNSCOM AND ITS
CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BUTLER, HAVE LOST THEIR CREDIBILITY, AND A NEW
MECHANISM FOR DISARMAMENT MUST BE FOUND.
FRENCH AMBASSADOR ALAIN DEJAMMET:
/// DEJAMMET ACT ///
WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE SOLUTION, TO BE QUITE
CLEAR, IS TO IGNORE IRAQ OR TO LET IRAQ FALL INTO A
STATE OF ISOLATION WITHOUT ANY INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN
THE TERRITORY. WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS JUST BY
OVERFLYING IRAQ THAT YOU WILL HAVE PRECISE KNOWLEDGE OF
WHAT IT IS DOING IN THIS COUNTRY. IF OUR GOAL IS REALLY
TO PREVENT IRAQ FROM RECONSTRUCTING POSSIBLE CAPACITY,
WE NEED TO IMAGINE SOMETHING NEW, AND THIS SOLUTION
WOULD BE TO SEND BACK A REVAMPED U-N COMMISSION,
WHATEVER THE NAME. THE NAME IS NOT IMPORTANT, BUT IT
MUST SURELY BE PROFESSIONAL.
/// END ACT ///
DIPLOMATS SAY IT IS BY NO MEANS CLEAR THAT THE PANELS WILL
PROVIDE A BASIS THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THE QUESTION OF IRAQI DISARMAMENT.
BUT THEY SAY CREATION OF THE PANELS APPEARS TO OFFER THE BEST IF
NOT THE ONLY AVENUE FOR BREAKING THE CURRENT DEADLOCK. AND THEY
SAY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREE THE DEADLOCK MUST BE BROKEN.
(SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW
10-Feb-99 2:40 PM EST (1940 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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