DATE=12/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ REACT/U-N (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-257277
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:


INTRO:  Iraq has strongly condemned a United Nations 
resolution designed to send weapons inspectors back 
into Iraq in exchange for the suspension of U-N 
sanctions.  Richard Engel reports from V-O-A's Middle 
East bureau that Iraq wants the sanctions to be lifted 
permanently without having to allow the arms 
inspectors back in.

TEXT:  Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, 
sharply criticized Saturday a British-sponsored U-N 
resolution aimed at re-starting arms inspection in 
Iraq.  Mr. Aziz described the resolution as a work of 
trickery.

Mr. Aziz criticized the proposal for not addressing 
the no-fly zones established by the United States and 
Britain to protect Kurdish and Shiite Muslim opponents 
from possible Iraqi attacks.  Mr. Aziz described daily 
flights over the zones by U-S and British planes as 
"aggression against Iraq and its sovereignty."

The Iraqi media has also called the U-N resolution a 
treacherous plot designed to undermine Iraq.  Iraqi 
television called the resolution "wicked."

The Al Qadissiya newspaper, published by the 
information ministry in Baghdad, also branded the 
resolution a failure because it was not passed with 
the full support of the 15-member U-N Security 
Council.

The U-N resolution offers Iraq renewable, four-month-
long suspensions of the sanctions that have been in 
place since the Gulf War. This, in return for Iraq's 
extended cooperation with a new group of weapons 
inspectors.

The government in Baghdad has refused to admit arms 
inspectors since last December, when the United States 
and Britain launched air strikes against Iraq.

The resolution would also immediately raise the amount 
oil Iraq could sell to buy humanitarian supplies, and 
expand the type of products Iraq could purchase under 
the U-N oil-for-food program.

Eleven members of the Security Council voted for the 
resolution, with Russia, China, France and Malaysia 
abstaining.  They argued that it was not clear exactly 
what Iraq would have to do for the United Nations to 
consider it being cooperative.

Mr. Aziz said he appreciated the four abstentions, but 
would have been happier had they been vetoes.  The 
deputy prime minister said Iraq is ready to face the 
consequences of rejecting the new resolution. (SIGNED)

NEB/RHE/DW/JP




18-Dec-1999 09:20 AM EDT (18-Dec-1999 1420 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.