DATE=3/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ-ARMS INSPECTIONS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260076
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations today (Friday) formally
appointed 16 people to advise the new weapons
inspection commission for Iraq. VOA Correspondent
Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations.
TEXT: The 16 -- 13 men and three women -- were
nominated by U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan and
unanimously approved by the Security Council. They
will advise and assist the new chief U-N weapons
inspector for Iraq, Hans Blix.
Jayantha Dhanapala (Jah-yan-tha Donna-pahla), U-N
Undersecretary-General for Disarmament, says all the
commissioners have specific expertise in fields
relevant to the Iraqi assignment.
/// DHANAPALA ACT ///
All of them have expertise in the subject of
disarmament. Some of them have expertise as
diplomats working on disarmament issues, either
in their foreign offices or elsewhere. Others
have technical expertise in the various areas of
weaponry that they will be dealing with, such as
nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, biological
weapons and missiles.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Dhanapala says nine of the 16 commissioners were
chosen by the secretary-general's office with the rest
nominated by governments. There are commissioners
from all five nations that are permanent members of
the U-N Security Council - Britain, China, France,
Russia and the United States. The 16 commissioners
come from around the world, but there are no Arabs in
the group. Mr. Dhanapala says no Arab governments
nominated anyone and the secretary-general's office
was unable to identify a qualified Arab expert who was
available to serve.
Late last year, the Security Council established the
current weapons inspection commission for Iraq to
replace the one that left the country in December of
1998 and was never allowed back. The question remains
as to whether the new inspectors will be allowed to
fulfill their mandate. The Iraqi government has said
repeatedly that it will not cooperate with the
Security Council resolution that established the new
weapons inspection commission. (Signed)
NEB/UN/BA/LSF/KL
10-Mar-2000 16:17 PM EDT (10-Mar-2000 2117 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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