ACCESSION NUMBER:00000

FILE ID:97063001.GWE

DATE:06/30/97

TITLE:30-06-97  TEXT: STATE DEPT. APPLAUDS CONTRIBUTIONS OF UNSCOM'S EKEUS



TEXT:

(Ekeus departing as UNSCOM Executive Chairman) (250)



Washington -- Acting State Department Spokesman John Dinger praised

the contributions to peace and security made by Rolf Ekeus, departing

executive chairman of the United Nations Special Commission (UNSCOM).



In a June 30 statement, Dinger said Ekeus, who is Swedish, "has been

skillful, tenacious, and highly professional in following the charter

given to him by the Security Council to pursue the truth about weapons

of mass destruction in Iraq."



He added, "We look forward to working with incoming UNSCOM Chairman

Richard Butler."



Following is the text of the statement.



(Begin text)



U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

June 30, 1997



STATEMENT BY JOHN DINGER, ACTING SPOKESMAN



DEPARTURE OF UNSCOM CHAIRMAN ROLE EKEUS



We applaud the major contributions to international peace and security

made by Ambassador RoIf Ekeus of Sweden during his six years as

Executive Chairman of the United Nations Special Commission. Ekeus has

been skillful, tenacious, and highly professional in following the

charter given to him by the Security Council to pursue the truth about

weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. He has established UNSCOM as a

rigorous and highly respected arm of the international community.



The United Nations Special Commission deserves the continuing

unanimous support of the entire Security Council in carrying out its

Security Council mandate. We look forward to working with incoming

UNSCOM Chairman Richard Butler.



(End text)

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