DATE=12/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S - IRAQ
NUMBER=2-256773
BYLINE=KYLE KING
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  The United States is urging the U-N Security 
Council to move quickly on a comprehensive resolution 
that would put weapons inspectors back into Iraq.  
Officials say they are concerned that Iraq is 
rebuilding facilities that could once again be used to 
produce weapons of mass destruction.  From the State 
Department, V-O-A's Kyle King reports.

TEXT:  The United Nations Security Council has yet to 
resolve differences on how to resume international 
weapons inspections in Iraq.

The inspections were halted last year after Iraqi 
President Saddam Hussein expelled U-N inspectors.

State Department spokesman James Rubin says the debate 
over a comprehensive U-N resolution on Iraq has gone 
on long enough, and it is time for the Council to act.

            /// RUBIN ACT ///

      We think that resolution has been discussed 
      debated, negotiated, mulled over, poured over, 
      looked at from every possible direction from 
      experts from all of the countries for weeks and 
      months now, and we think the time has come for 
      the council to act very, very, soon.

            /// END ACT ///

The United States is hoping for a comprehensive 
resolution that will deal with humanitarian issues, 
Iraqi oil exports and the weapons inspections.

Russia is still considering a British proposal for 
overall policy toward Iraq, which Baghdad has already 
rejected. 

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is expected to 
hold more telephone conversations with Russian Foreign 
Minister Igor Ivanov in hopes of settling the issue.

News reports say Russia wants to reduce the time it 
would take for sanctions imposed on Iraq after the 
Gulf War to be lifted if it complies with U-N 
Resolutions.

/// OPT ///U-S officials say sanctions could be 
suspended if weapons inspectors are allowed back to 
monitor compliance with U-N Resolutions. /// END OPT 
///

The State Departments' spokesman says a comprehensive 
settlement needs to be passed soon since there is 
concern that Iraq is rebuilding facilities destroyed 
in a U-S and British led military operation last 
December.

            /// RUBIN ACT TWO ///

      We are concerned about that.  We will monitor it 
      quite closely.  We do not believe they have 
      crossed the red line that the President set out 
      at the time of that military enterprise and that 
      is that they have reconstituted their weapons of 
      mass destruction program.  We are concerned that 
      they are repairing and rebuilding some 
      facilities that could perhaps be used for that. 
      But the best way to answer the question of what 
      their programs have and don't have, and what 
      they are doing and not doing, is as I indicated 
      earlier, is to get the inspectors back.
      
            /// END ACT ///

The debate over Iraq has taken on added urgency 
because the U-N humanitarian oil-for-food program is 
set to expire (Saturday, Dec. 4) unless it is extended 
by the Security Council.

            /// REST OPT ///

U-S officials say they would support another temporary 
extension of the program while the details of a 
comprehensive settlement are being worked out. France 
is proposing a six-month extension desired by Iraq. 

NEB/KBK/TVM/JO




02-Dec-1999 20:40 PM EDT (03-Dec-1999 0140 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.