DATE=  11/21/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223049

TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L)

BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS

 DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS RETURNED TO IRAQ FRIDAY

AFTER A TENSE, THREE-WEEK CONFRONTATION BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND THE 

U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.  BUT AS V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT 

DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS, THE UNITED STATES INTENDS TO MAINTAIN A 

REINFORCED MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE GULF REGION UNTIL IRAQ HAS 

COMPLIED WITH U-N DEMANDS FOR THE ELIMINATION OF ITS WEAPONS OF 

MASS DESTRUCTION.



TEXT:  A CONTINGENT OF MORE THAN 70 WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARRIVED IN

BAGHDAD EARLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON, ON A U-N FLIGHT FROM THE GULF 

STATE OF BAHRAIN.



THE U-N TEAM INCLUDES UNITED STATES CITIZENS EXPELLED BY IRAQI  

AUTHORITIES LAST WEEK.  THE REMAINING U-N INSPECTORS WERE 

SUBSEQUENTLY WITHDRAWN IN PROTEST OVER THE IRAQI MOVE.



BAGHDAD RESCINDED THE EXPULSION ORDER AFTER MEDIATION EFFORTS BY 

THE  RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT.  MOSCOW HAS PLEDGED TO PUSH FOR A SPEEDY

END TO THE U-N ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ AFTER ITS 1990 

INVASION OF KUWAIT.



RUSSIA ALSO ASSURED IRAQ THAT STEPS WILL BE TAKEN TO ENHANCE THE 

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE U-N COMMISSION, CHARGED WITH VERIFYING THE 

ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS, 

AS WELL AS THE DESTRUCTION OF ITS LONG RANGE MISSILES.



THE STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA IN BAGHDAD HAVE PROCLAIMED THE RUSSIAN

INITIATIVE A VICTORY FOR IRAQ, IN WHAT WAS TERMED ITS GREAT 

BATTLE WITH AMERICA.



BUT IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ ACKNOWLEDGED, AT A 

NEWS  CONFERENCE HERE IN CAIRO THURSDAY, THAT BAGHDAD WON  NO  

SPECIFIC CONCESSIONS IN EXCHANGE FOR ITS DECISION TO ALLOW THE 

INSPECTORS TO RETURN.



THE U-N TEAM NOW BACK IN BAGHDAD IS EXPECTED TO RESUME 

INSPECTIONS AT IRAQI WEAPONS SITES OVER THE WEEKEND.  U-N 

OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE EXPERTS WILL BE CONCENTRATING ON IRAQ'S 

EFFORTS TO PRODUCE BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS, INCLUDING THE

MUSTARD GAS IRAQI FORCES USED REPEATEDLY DURING ITS EIGHT YEAR 

WAR AGAINST IRAN.



THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT INSISTS IT  NO  LONGER POSSESSES WEAPONS OF 

MASS DESTRUCTION.  BUT THE U-N AND MOST WESTERN GOVERNMENTS 

DISPUTE THIS.



THEIR SUSPICIONS WERE REINFORCED WHEN IRAQI AUTHORITIES REMOVED 

EQUIPMENT FROM SOME WEAPONS SITES AND TAMPERED WITH U-N 

SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS DURING THE THREE WEEK CRISIS, WHEN  NO  

INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT.



DESPITE BAGHDAD'S DECISION TO RE-ADMIT THE U-N TEAM, THE UNITED 

STATES MILITARY BUILD-UP IN THE PERSIAN GULF CONTINUES.



THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER GEORGE WASHINGTON ENTERED THE GULF EARLY 

FRIDAY, JOINING ANOTHER CARRIER BATTLE GROUP.  AND MORE AMERICAN 

WARPLANES ARRIVED IN KUWAIT.



U-S OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE ADDITIONAL FORCES WILL REMAIN IN THE 

REGION UNTIL IRAQ HAS COMPLIED WITH U-N DEMANDS.  (SIGNED) 



NEB/DBR/JWH/EH



21-Nov-97 9:54 AM EST (1454 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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