DATE=4/16/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248212
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ DISARMAMENT (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IS STEPPING UP
EFFORTS TO RESOLVE DIVISIONS OVER HOW TO REVIVE THE U-N
DISARMAMENT PROGRAM IN IRAQ. THE COUNCIL CONSIDERED TWO
RESOLUTIONS ON THE ISSUE TODAY (FRIDAY), ONE FROM RUSSIA, THE
OTHER FROM BRITAIN AND THE NETHERLANDS. V-O-A'S U-N
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS THE STORY.
TEXT: THE TWO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS SHOW THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS REMAIN
DIVIDED OVER KEY ISSUES SUCH AS THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AGAINST
IRAQ AND THE METHOD OF MONITORING THAT COUNTRY'S WEAPONS
PROGRAMS. BUT DIPLOMATS SAY DISCUSSION OF THE DRAFT RESOLUTIONS
IS NEVERTHELESS A STEP FORWARD, REPRESENTING A MOVE FROM ALMOST
COMPLETE IMPASSE TO CONSTRUCTIVE DISCUSSION.
THE RUSSIAN DRAFT RESOLUTION SUGGESTS THAT ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON
IRAQ BE LIFTED AS SOON AS BAGHDAD DEMONSTRATES FULL COOPERATION
WITH A RECONSTITUTED U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION. THE
DRAFT RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY BRITAIN AND THE NETHERLANDS DOES
NOT SUGGEST THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS. BUT IT DOES CALL FOR AN
INCREASED NUMBER OF EXCEPTIONS TO THE SANCTIONS, IN ORDER TO
GENERATE MORE MONEY FOR HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS IN IRAQ.
THE U-S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS PETER BURLEIGH
DESCRIBES THE RESOLUTION FROM BRITAIN AND THE NETHERLANDS AS A
GOOD START. BUT HE SAYS WASHINGTON HAS SOME PROBLEMS WITH IT.
HE DISMISSES THE RUSSIAN PROPOSAL AS NOT SERIOUS.
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SERGEI LAVROV SAYS THE ONLY PROPOSALS THAT CAN
BE CONSIDERED SERIOUS ARE THOSE THAT IRAQ WILL COOPERATE WITH.
AND HE SAYS THE ONLY WAY TO ACHIEVE SUCH COOPERATION IS THROUGH
THE LIFTING OF SOME SANCTIONS.
/// LAVROV ACT ///
THIS IS AN APPROACH WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ANY DETRIMENTAL
EFFECT TO THE ABILITY OF THE COUNCIL TO IMPLEMENT ITS
OWN RESOLUTIONS. WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE ONLY WAY -- I
MEAN THE WAY WHICH WOULD GIVE IRAQ A CLEAR ROADMAP TO
LIFTING SANCTIONS -- THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO BRING THE
UNITED NATIONS BACK IN IRAQ. UNLESS YOU BRING THE U-N
BACK IN IRAQ, YOU DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE REALLY SAFE
FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF NON-RESUMPTION OF THE PROGRAMS
IN IRAQ TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
/// END ACT ///
THE COUNCIL REACHED A DEADLOCK IN ITS DISCUSSIONS ON IRAQ IN
DECEMBER, AFTER BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES BEGAN AIR STRIKES
AGAINST THAT COUNTRY. THE AIR STRIKES FOLLOWED IRAQ'S FAILURE TO
COOPERATE WITH THE EXISTING U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION,
UNSCOM.
COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOW TRYING TO REVIVE THE UNITED NATIONS'
ABILITY TO MONITOR IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS. BUT IRAQ SAYS IT
WILL COOPERATE WITH THOSE EFFORTS ONLY IF THE SECURITY COUNCIL
FIRST LIFTS SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR.
BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES SAY THOSE SANCTIONS CANNOT BE
LIFTED UNTIL THE UNITED NATIONS HAS FULLY VERIFIED IRAQ'S CLAIM
THAT IT NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. CHINA,
RUSSIA AND FRANCE SAY SOME SANCTIONS SHOULD BE LIFTED IF THAT IS
THE ONLY WAY TO SECURE IRAQ'S COOPERATION IN THE DISARMAMENT
PROCESS.
THE COUNCIL IS ALSO TRYING TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES OVER HOW TO
IMPROVE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ AND SPEED UP THE
RESOLUTION OF QUESTIONS CONCERNING MISSING PRISONERS OF WAR FROM
THE GULF WAR.
DISCUSSIONS ON THE TWO DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
NEXT WEEK. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
16-Apr-99 3:23 PM EDT (1923 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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