DATE=1/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N - EKEUS (L-O)
NUMBER=2-258191
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: At the United Nations today (Tuesday),the
Security Council took no action on Secretary General
Kofi Annan's recommendation that former U-N chief arms
inspector for Iraq, Swedish diplomat Rolf Ekeus, head
a new U-N disarmament agency for Iraq. Correspondent
Barbara Schoetzau reports.
TEXT: Security Council members failed to reach an
agreement on the nomination of Mr. Ekeus, currently
Sweden's Ambassador to the United States.
This month's President of the Security Council, U-S
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, says the Security
Council will continuing discussing that issue
Wednesday.
Mr. Holbrooke says Secretary General Annan decided to
nominate Ambassador Ekeus to head the agency charged
with eliminating Iraq's biological, chemical and
nuclear weapons after an extensive search.
//// HOLBROOKE ACT ///
The United States supports strongly and
enthusiastically the selection by the Secretary
general of Ralph Ekeus to be the head of
UNMAVIC. I would further say that having watched
Secretary General Annan go through this process
over the last few months, he has been
exhaustive, diligent, fair-minded and impartial
throughout. He has looked repeatedly for a
consensus candidate and has come up with the
person he believes is best qualified for the
job.
//// END ACT ////
Mr. Annan nominated Mr. Ekeus after being unable to
find a candidate the five Security Council members
with veto power could agree upon.
But the nomination has become controversial. During
his previous tenure as arms chief for Iraq, Mr. Ekeus
accused Baghdad of deceiving inspectors. Iraq, in
turn, accused Mr. Ekeus of spying for the United
States and deliberately prolonging the sanctions that
were imposed on Iraq when the Gulf War ended in 1991.
France and Russia oppose the nomination, saying the
United Nations should put forth a new face, someone
who can win Iraq's cooperation.
China says it prefers a candidate from a developing
nation. (Signed)
NEB/NYC/bjs/PT
18-Jan-2000 18:36 PM EDT (18-Jan-2000 2336 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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