DATE=4/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248157
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ WEAPONS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HELD CLOSED-DOOR
DISCUSSIONS TODAY (THURSDAY) ON EFFORTS TO MONITOR IRAQ'S WEAPONS
PROGRAMS. THE DISCUSSIONS REVIVED DIVISIONS IN THE COUNCIL OVER
HOW TO DEAL WITH IRAQ. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON
REPORTS.
TEXT: THE SESSION WAS HELD TO DISCUSS TWO, SIX-MONTH REPORTS ON
IRAQ PREPARED BY THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM,
AND THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, THE I-A-E-A. RUSSIAN
AMBASSADOR SERGEI LAVROV WALKED OUT OF THE COUNCIL MEETING
MOMENTS AFTER IT BEGAN.
/// LAVROV ACT ///
UNSCOM WAS NOT IN IRAQ SINCE DECEMBER 15TH, THE DAY OF
UNSCOM REPORT WHICH WAS WELL KNOWN AND THE DAY THE AIR
STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ STARTED, SINCE THEN UNSCOM WAS NOT
THERE, SINCE THEN UNSCOM DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON
IN IRAQ, SO THIS REPORT, THOUGH WHILE TECHNICALLY
REQUIRED UNDER RESOLUTION AS A SIX MONTH REPORT IS A
WASTE OF TIME TO DISCUSS.
/// END ACT ///
RUSSIA WANTS TO SEE UNSCOM REPLACED WITH A MONITORING SYSTEM MORE
ACCEPTABLE TO IRAQ. THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN SAY THEY
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT UNSCOM AND ITS CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BUTLER.
DIPLOMATS SAY MR. LAVROV'S DECISION TO WALK OUT OF THE COUNCIL
MEETING THURSDAY WAS PROBABLY INTENDED AS A PERSONAL AFFRONT TO
MR. BUTLER, IN ADDITION TO UNSCOM.
U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH DESCRIBED THE COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS
ON THE UNSCOM AND I-A-E-A REPORTS AS EXCELLENT.
/// BURLEIGH ACT ///
IT WAS GOOD. IT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE COUNCIL I
THINK, AND WE WILL BE GOING BACK TO WORK TOMORROW
(FRIDAY) ON IRAQ TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OF THE IRAQ
QUESTION AND THE REACTIONS TO THE PANELS AND THE REPORTS
THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY (THURSDAY).
/// END ACT ///
DIPLOMATS SAY THE DISCUSSIONS MAY MARK THE LAST APPEARANCE BEFORE
THE COUNCIL OF UNSCOM CHIEF RICHARD BUTLER, WHO IS EXPECTED TO
LEAVE HIS POST WHEN HIS CONTRACT EXPIRES IN JUNE.
ON FRIDAY, THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE
DISCUSSIONS AIMED AT BREAKING ITS DEADLOCK ON IRAQ. THOSE TALKS
WILL FOCUS ON A SERIES OF REPORTS ON THE STATUS OF DISARMAMENT
EFFORTS, HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS AND MISSING PRISONERS OF WAR IN
IRAQ. COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE NOW IS TO FIND
A WAY TO CONVINCE IRAQ TO COOPERATE WITH DISARMAMENT EFFORTS.
SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AFTER THE GULF WAR SAY
SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ CANNOT BE LIFTED UNTIL THE COUNCIL HAS
RECEIVED VERIFICATION THAT BAGHDAD NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION. IRAQ WANTS THOSE SANCTIONS LIFTED IMMEDIATELY.
(SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WFR
15-Apr-99 2:51 PM EDT (1851 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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