DATE=  11/21/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-223066

TITLE=IRAQ/U-N MEETING (L ONLY)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  AN ADVISORY BOARD OF THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL 

COMMISSION RESPONSIBLE FOR DISARMING IRAQ IS MEETING BEHIND 

CLOSED DOORS TODAY (FRI) IN EMERGENCY SESSION TO DISCUSS VARIOUS 

ASPECTS OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.  AFTER A THREE-WEEK STAND-OFF

OVER THE PARTICIPATION OF AMERICANS, THE INSPECTORS -- INCLUDING 

THE AMERICANS -- WENT BACK TO IRAQ TODAY TO RESUME THEIR WORK.  

VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:   



TEXT:  FIFTEEN OF THE 20 COMMISSIONERS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL 

ADVISORY BOARD WERE ABLE TO MAKE THIS EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE 

SPECIAL COMMISSION.  NONE OF THEM WOULD SPEAK TO THE PRESS DURING

A MID-DAY BREAK.  COMMISSION CHAIRMAN RICHARD BUTLER STOOD ON 

PROTOCOL, SAYING IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE TO COMMENT AT THIS 

POINT:



                         //BUTLER ACT//



         NO, NO NO, NO...IT'S QUITE INAPPROPRIATE FOR ME TO SAY 

         ANYTHING OF SUBSTANCE UNTIL THIS MEETING IS FINISHED AND

         WE'VE GONE TO THE (SECURITY) COUNCIL.  JUST THAT THE 

         MEETING IS GOING WELL.  WE'RE DOWN INTO DETAIL NOW AND 

         I'M PLEASED WITH THE WAY WE'RE GOING.  OKAY?



                           //END ACT//



MOST SECURITY COUNCIL DIPLOMATS ARE UNCLEAR WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS 

WILL BE COMING OUT OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING.  THE 

RUSSIANS, FOR SURE, ARE HOPING AMBASSADOR BUTLER'S GROUP WILL 

SUGGEST EXPANDING THE INSPECTION TEAMS TO INCLUDE  

REPRESENTATIVES FROM MORE COUNTRIES.  RUSSIA APPARENTLY PROMISED 

THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DURING ITS DIPLOMATIC PUSH THIS WEEK TO END 

THE CRISIS THAT IT WOULD PRESS THE ISSUE.



IRAQ SEEMS TO BELIEVE AMERICAN INFLUENCE IN THE SPECIAL 

COMMISSION WOULD BE DILUTED IF IT WERE SUBMERGED WITHIN A BROADER

INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT.



BUT THE UNITED STATES IS WARY OF PLAYING WHAT IS BEING CALLED THE

"NATIONALITY CARD".  U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON SAYS THE 

STAKES OF DISARMING IRAQ ARE TOO HIGH TO BE SIDE-TRACKED:



                       //RICHARDSON ACT//



         THERE'S  SOME CONCERN THAT IRAQ MAY HAVE USED THIS TIME 

         TO BUILD UP THEIR POISON GAS ARSENAL -- LIKE ANTHRAX.  

         WE HAVE TO ESTABLISH THAT.  AT A MINIMUM, UNSCOM SHOULD 

         COME OUT STRONGER, WITH MORE ACCESS BY THE IRAQIS, WITH 

         MORE ABILITY TO MOVE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, UNIMPEDED. 

         IRAQ SHOULD STOP ITS CONCEALMENT EFFORTS AND COME CLEAN.

         THAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT STEP.



                           //END ACT//



THE UNITED STATES HAS THREATENED TO VETO ANY RECOMMENDATION BY 

THE SPECIAL COMMISSION THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EFFICIENCY

AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSPECTIONS. (SIGNED)



NEB/EJ/EH







 







21-Nov-97 2:50 PM EST (1950 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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