DATE=12/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ REACT/U-N (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257277
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Iraq has strongly condemned a United Nations
resolution designed to send weapons inspectors back
into Iraq in exchange for the suspension of U-N
sanctions. Richard Engel reports from V-O-A's Middle
East bureau that Iraq wants the sanctions to be lifted
permanently without having to allow the arms
inspectors back in.
TEXT: Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz,
sharply criticized Saturday a British-sponsored U-N
resolution aimed at re-starting arms inspection in
Iraq. Mr. Aziz described the resolution as a work of
trickery.
Mr. Aziz criticized the proposal for not addressing
the no-fly zones established by the United States and
Britain to protect Kurdish and Shiite Muslim opponents
from possible Iraqi attacks. Mr. Aziz described daily
flights over the zones by U-S and British planes as
"aggression against Iraq and its sovereignty."
The Iraqi media has also called the U-N resolution a
treacherous plot designed to undermine Iraq. Iraqi
television called the resolution "wicked."
The Al Qadissiya newspaper, published by the
information ministry in Baghdad, also branded the
resolution a failure because it was not passed with
the full support of the 15-member U-N Security
Council.
The U-N resolution offers Iraq renewable, four-month-
long suspensions of the sanctions that have been in
place since the Gulf War. This, in return for Iraq's
extended cooperation with a new group of weapons
inspectors.
The government in Baghdad has refused to admit arms
inspectors since last December, when the United States
and Britain launched air strikes against Iraq.
The resolution would also immediately raise the amount
oil Iraq could sell to buy humanitarian supplies, and
expand the type of products Iraq could purchase under
the U-N oil-for-food program.
Eleven members of the Security Council voted for the
resolution, with Russia, China, France and Malaysia
abstaining. They argued that it was not clear exactly
what Iraq would have to do for the United Nations to
consider it being cooperative.
Mr. Aziz said he appreciated the four abstentions, but
would have been happier had they been vetoes. The
deputy prime minister said Iraq is ready to face the
consequences of rejecting the new resolution. (SIGNED)
NEB/RHE/DW/JP
18-Dec-1999 09:20 AM EDT (18-Dec-1999 1420 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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