ACCESSION NUMBER:00000

FILE ID:97102901.NNE

DATE:10/29/97

TITLE:29-10-97  TEXT: RUBIN STATEMENT, IRAQI REGIME ANNOUNCEMENT ON UNSCOM



TEXT:

(American weapons inspectors not permitted to carry out duties) (400)



Washington -- State Department Spokesman James P. Rubin called

"unacceptable" the announcement October 29 by the Iraqi regime that

U.N. personnel who are U.S. citizens will no longer be permitted to

carry out their mandated duties in Iraq as members of the U.N. Special

Commission (UNSCOM).



Rubin said in a statement that the United States is currently

discussing this "serious challenge with our allies and others of the

UNSC. But, as a challenge to the Security Council's authority, this

action has potentially grave consequences."



Following is the text of Rubin's statement:



(Begin text)



U.S. Department of State

Office of the Spokesman



October 29, 1997



STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN



Today the Iraqi regime declared that U.N. personnel who are U.S.

citizens will no longer be permitted to carry out their mandated

duties in Iraq as members of the U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM). The

Iraqi regime also announced that it would ask for a change in the

deployment of U.N. aircraft.



This action is unacceptable. It is a blatant rejection of U.N.

Security Council calls for Iraqi compliance with Security Council

resolutions, particularly with respect to the U.N. Special

Commission's mandate to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. This

call was recently reaffirmed by resolutions 1113 and 1134.



The Iraqi regime's statement is more than a refusal to comply with

UNSC resolutions and to cooperate fully with UNSCOM. It is an attack

on the very fundamentals of the U.N. system and in particular on

UNSCOM's responsibility to carry out its mandate from the Security

Council as the Commission deems appropriate.



We are currently discussing this serious challenge with our allies and

others of the UNSC. But, as a challenge to the Security Council's

authority, this action has potentially grave consequences.



This is not the first time Iraq has tried to interfere with U.N.

personnel and aircraft. Iraq cannot dictate to UNSCOM how it will

carry out its mandate. Effective inspection requires that UNSCOM

conduct its activities as it decides. Iraq bears the responsibility

for the safety and security of U.N. personnel and must permit them to

carry out their mandate and mission effectively.



(End text)

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