DATE=  11/20/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222987

TITLE=U-S-IRAQ (L)

BYLINE=RON PEMSTEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ACCEPTING ANY CONDITIONS IRAQ 

AND RUSSIA MAY HAVE ATTACHED TO THE RETURN OF U-N WEAPONS 

INSPECTORS TO BAGHDAD.  RON PEMSTEIN REPORTS FROM GENEVA WHERE 

SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT MET HER COLLEAGUES FROM 

RUSSIA, BRITAIN, AND FRANCE IN A POST-MIDNIGHT SESSION.



TEXT:  IRAQ'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE RETURN OF THE U-N WEAPONS 

INSPECTORS MAY HAVE CONDITIONS, BUT THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT 

PLAN TO ACCEPT THEM.  



STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN JAMES RUBIN SAYS IRAQ'S REVERSAL OF 

COURSE IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.  BUT SECRETARY OF STATE 

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE WANTS TO MAKE SURE THE INSPECTORS CAN

DO THEIR WORK.



                      /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///



         SO FAR WHAT WE HAVE ARE STATEMENTS BY SADDAM HUSSEIN TO 

         REVERSE COURSE.  WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT THAT HAS REALLY

         HAPPENED.  ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.



                         /// END ACT ///



IRAQ IS SAYING IT HAS AGREED WITH RUSSIA THE WEAPONS TEAMS WILL 

BE BALANCED, SURVEILLANCE FLIGHTS WILL END, AND THE INSPECTORS 

WILL BE BARRED FROM PRESIDENTIAL SITES.



SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT SAYS SHE DID NOT ACCEPT ANY 

CONDITIONS FOR THE RETURN OF THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS AT HER 

MEETING WITH THE FOREIGN MINISTERS IN GENEVA.



                      /// ALBRIGHT ACT ///



         THEY (IRAQ) HAVE LONG OBJECTED TO THE WAY THAT UNSCOM 

         HAS OPERATED.  THE UNITED STATES HAS AGREED TO NO 

         CONDITIONS.  THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS.



                         /// END ACT ///



A STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAYS IN ANY CASE, THE UNITED STATES 

CAN VETO IRAQI CONDITIONS IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.  THE 

OFFICIAL SAYS RUSSIA HAS ALWAYS ADVOCATED IRAQI POSITIONS WITHIN 

THE SECURITY COUNCIL, BUT HAS JOINED THE UNANIMOUS RULING OF THE 

PERMANENT FIVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IRAQ MUST COMPLY 

UNCONDITIONALLY WITH THE INSPECTIONS.



SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT LEAVES GENEVA THIS AFTERNOON FOR 

VANCOUVER, CANADA WHERE SHE WILL PREPARE THE ASIA-PACIFIC SUMMIT 

CONFERENCE FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON.  SHE IS LIKELY TO USE HER 

OPPORTUNITY THERE TO MEET WITH CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN 

QICHEN ON POLICY TOWARD IRAQ.  MR. QIAN WAS THE ONLY MINISTER 

FROM THE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT DID NOT 

ATTEND THE GENEVA MEETING (THURSDAY).   (SIGNED)



NEB/RP/TMD/RAE



20-Nov-97 10:23 AM EST (1523 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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