DATE=1/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ALBRIGHT-IRAQ (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258384
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
today (Monday) called on the U-N Security Council to
accept the appointment of Rolf Ekeus as the new chief
arms inspector for Iraq. V-O-A Correspondent Breck
Ardery reports from the United Nations.
TEXT: Secretary Albright was at the United Nations to
preside over a special (Security Council) session on
the conflict in Congo-Kinshasa. During a break in that
meeting, Ms. Albright told reporters she is concerned
that the Security Council has not approved Mr. Ekeus
to head the Iraqi arms inspection system.
/// ALBRIGHT ACT ///
There is no more important subject for the
Security Council to deal with than Iraq. I was
deeply disappointed by some of the discussions
last week in which the Security Council did not
honor the agreement that the Secretary-General
would be able to name a chairman.
/// END ACT ///
Ms. Albright was referring to the latest Security
Council resolution on Iraq, passed in December, in
which U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan was directed to
appoint a new chief weapons inspector. The appointment
of Mr. Ekeus, a Swedish diplomat who established the
first weapons inspection operation in Iraq almost nine
years ago, is facing opposition from China, France and
Russia, all permanent members of the Security Council.
They say that, since Iraq opposes Mr. Ekeus, his
appointment would likely mean no Iraqi cooperation
with arms inspections.
The United States is still hoping to convince fellow
Security Council members to go along with the
appointment of Mr. Ekeus. However, the U-S Ambassador
to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, says he is
not sure "how or when" the matter will be resolved.
(Signed)
NEB/BA/LSF/TVM/gm
24-Jan-2000 16:40 PM EDT (24-Jan-2000 2140 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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