DATE=4/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247762
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ PANELS (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY)
RENEWED DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE WAYS TO BREAK ITS DEADLOCK OVER
WHAT TO DO NEXT ABOUT SANCTIONS AND DISARMAMENT POLICIES
CONCERNING IRAQ. BUT, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON,
THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF AGREEMENT ON THOSE ISSUES AMONG KEY COUNCIL
MEMBERS.
TEXT: THE COUNCIL MET TO DISCUSS THREE REPORTS DESIGNED TO HELP
BREAK THEIR DEADLOCK ON KEY ISSUES CONCERNING IRAQ. THE REPORTS,
WHICH INCLUDE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COUNCIL, WERE
PREPARED BY SPECIAL PANELS, CHAIRED BY BRAZIL'S U-N AMBASSADOR,
CELSO AMORIM.
/// AMORIM ACT ///
I THINK THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE THERE, ARE A WAY OF
ENABLING THE COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON CONCRETE OPTIONS FOR
THE FUTURE, AND THIS IS A BIG STEP, OR MAYBE IT IS A
SMALL STEP, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN
RELATION TO THE SITUATION WE HAD PREVIOUSLY.
/// END ACT ///
BUT, DIPLOMATS SAY DIVISIONS OVER IRAQ POLICY SURFACED EARLY IN
THE CLOSED-DOOR DISCUSSION ON THE REPORTS, WITH FRANCE AND RUSSIA
MAKING IT CLEAR THEY WANT SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ LIFTED. BRITAIN
AND THE UNITED STATES ARE OPPOSED TO SUCH MEASURES, UNTIL THEY
FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IRAQ IS NO LONGER DEVELOPING OR DEPLOYING
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
THERE WERE ALSO DIVISIONS OVER WHETHER A NEW WEAPONS MONITORING
PROGRAM IS NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CURRENT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION
COMMISSION, UNSCOM.
DIPLOMATS SAY THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS ON THE NEED TO MONITOR IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS. THEY SAY
DISAGREEMENT FOCUSES ON HOW TO ACHIEVE IRAQ'S COOPERATION IN SUCH
MONITORING. RUSSIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR, SERGEI LAVROV:
/// LAVROV ACT ///
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF RUSSIA'S POSITION, IT IS A FACT OF
LIFE THAT UNLESS IRAQ COOPERATES WITH THE UNITED
NATIONS, YOU CANNOT HOPE TO IMPOSE ANYTHING ON IRAQ, SO
THIS MUST BE BORNE IN MIND ALL THE TIME AS WE CONTINUE.
/// END ACT ///
DIPLOMATS SAY MR. LAVROV MADE HIS OPPOSITION TO UNSCOM CLEAR AT
THE START OF THE COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS BY INSISTING THAT UNSCOM
CHIEF RICHARD BUTLER LEAVE THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
THE THREE REPORTS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL DEAL WITH IRAQI
DISARMAMENT, HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS, AND PRISONERS OF WAR FROM
THE GULF WAR. THEY EACH INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO DEAL
WITH THOSE ISSUES IN IRAQ. BUT THEY DO NOT DISCUSS WHAT THE
COUNCIL CAN DO TO -- IN THE WORDS OF BRAZIL'S AMBASSADOR --
ENTICE IRAQ BACK INTO COOPERATION. THE COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS BEGUN
WEDNESDAY ARE AIMED AT DEALING WITH THAT ISSUE. DIPLOMATS SAY IT
COULD BE WEEKS OR MONTHS BEFORE A CONSENSUS IS REACHED.
DIPLOMATS SAY IRAQ MEANWHILE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE
WEAPONS PROGRAMS WITHOUT U-N MONITORING. BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR
CELSO AMORIM SAYS THE STATUS QUO IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION.
IRAQ BARRED ALL U-N MONITORING LATE LAST YEAR AND SEVERED ALL
COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN DECEMBER, AFTER THE
START OF U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WFR
07-Apr-99 3:33 PM EDT (1933 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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