DATE=7/1/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251321
TITLE=U-N / U-S / IRAQ (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CHIEF U-S DELEGATE TO THE UNITED NATIONS IS
OPTIMISTIC AN AGREEMENT WILL BE REACHED IN COMING MONTHS FOR THE
RESUMPTION OF WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. THE U-N SECURITY
COUNCIL HAS BEEN DEADLOCKED OVER THE ISSUE SINCE LATE LAST YEAR.
V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN TRYING FOR MONTHS TO REACH A
CONSENSUS ON HOW TO REVIVE WEAPONS INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ AND WHAT
TO DO ABOUT THE SANCTIONS IT IMPOSED ON THAT COUNTRY.
THE COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT TWO PROPOSED PLANS FOR ENDING
THE DEADLOCK. ONE, WRITTEN BY RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE, CALLS
FOR THE IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AND A LESS STRINGENT
MONITORING SYSTEM THAN THE ONE NOW IN PLACE. THE OTHER,
SUPPORTED BY BRITAIN AND THE NETHERLANDS, SUGGESTS A GRADUAL
EASING OF SANCTIONS, IF IRAQ AGREES TO THE RESUMPTION OF A FULL
RANGE OF MONITORING ACTIVITIES.
U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT THE
BRITISH-DUTCH DRAFT WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME THE BASIS FOR A
WORKABLE SYSTEM.
/// FIRST BURLEIGH ACT ///
YOU ALL KNOW THERE ARE DEEP SPLITS IN THE COUNCIL ON THE
SUBJECT OF IRAQ AND DISARMAMENT OF IRAQ, BUT I AM
OPTIMISTIC THAT THERE IS MOMENTUM BUILDING AROUND THE
BRITISH-DUTCH DRAFT AS THE COSPONSORSHIP NUMBERS GO UP.
I THINK IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT IT IS THE ONLY DRAFT THAT
IS THE SUBJECT OF SERIOUS NEGOTIATION IN THE COUNCIL.
/// END ACT ///
MR. BURLEIGH'S OPTIMISM COMES AMID STRONG OBJECTIONS TO THE
BRITISH-DUTCH DRAFT FROM FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA AS WELL AS
IRAQ. BAGHDAD SAYS IT WILL NOT AGREE TO ITS TERMS.
MR. BURLEIGH SAYS BAGHDAD'S OBJECTIONS DO NOT DAMPEN HIS
OPTIMISM. HE SAYS IRAQ FREQUENTLY SAYS NO TO U-N PLANS, RIGHT UP
UNTIL THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT, AND THEN AGREES TO THE TERMS.
/// SECOND BURLEIGH ACT ///
IT IS PART OF ITS NEGOTIATING POSITION ALWAYS, AND ITS
ATTEMPTS TO INFLUENCE THE COUNCIL THAT IT SAYS IT IS
GOING TO REJECT WHATEVER THE COUNCIL IS WORKING ON.
/// END ACT ///
THE SECURITY COUNCIL HELD A FIRST FORMAL ROUND OF TALKS ON THE
VARIOUS DRAFT RESOLUTIONS LATE LAST MONTH. THOSE TALKS ARE
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THIS MONTH. DIPLOMATS SAY INFORMAL
DISCUSSIONS ARE CONTINUING ON A BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL BASIS
OUTSIDE OF THE COUNCIL AND IT IS POSSIBLE A CONSENSUS COULD BE
REACHED BEFORE THE END OF AUGUST.
IRAQ SAYS SANCTIONS SHOULD BE LIFTED IMMEDIATELY AND THAT U-N
WEAPONS INSPECTIONS ARE NO LONGER NECESSARY. SECURITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTIONS SAY SANCTIONS CANNOT BE LIFTED UNTIL U-N WEAPONS
INSPECTORS HAVE VERIFIED IRAQ'S CLAIM THAT IT NO LONGER HAS ANY
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. WEAPONS INSPECTORS SAY IRAQ HAS NOT
YET MET THE REQUIREMENT FOR SUCH VERIFICATION. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/GM
01-Jul-99 2:17 PM EDT (1817 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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