DATE=  10/2/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220757

TITLE=IRAQ INSPECTIONS (S & L)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  U-N OFFICIALS ARE REPORTING MORE TROUBLE FOR WEAPONS 

INPECTORS IN IRAQ.  BAGHDAD APPARENTLY BLOCKED THEIR ACCESS TO 

THREE SITES DURING THE PAST WEEK.  VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE 

JOHANSON HAS DETAILS:   



TEXT:  A U-N SPOKESMAN SAYS U-N CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD 

BUTLER HAS WARNED IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, TARIQ AZIZ, THAT 

HE WILL INCLUDE THE LATEST INCIDENTS IN HIS MID-OCTOBER REPORT TO

THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  IRAQ'S COOPERATION ON WEAPONS ISSUES IS 

LINKED TO U-N SANCTIONS.



THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS RULED THERE WILL BE NO EASING OF THE 

PUNITIVE MEASURES IMPOSED AFTER IRAQ'S INVASION OF KUWAIT IN 1990

UNTIL IT IS SATISFIED THAT IRAQ NO LONGER HAS ANY POTENTIAL TO 

REBUILD WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.



THIS MOST RECENT STANDOFF IS SIMILAR TO DISPUTES LAST MONTH AND 

EARLIER IN JUNE WHEN IRAQ DECLARED CERTAIN SITES TOO SENSITIVE 

FOR INSPECTIONS.  THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION, HEADED BY MR. 

BUTLER, CONSISTENTLY REJECTS THAT ARGUMENT.



U-N OFFICIALS SAY TWO OF THE SITES ARE NORTH OF BAGHDAD -- AND 

ONE IS IN THE CITY.



                          //REST OPT//



MEANWHILE, IN THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER 

MOHAMMED SAID AL-SAHAF COMPLAINED IRAQ HAS BEEN SUFFERING UNDER 

WHAT HE CALLED AN "UNJUST BLOCKADE NEVER BEFORE WITNESSED IN 

HUMAN HISTORY."  THE IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER DENOUNCED THE UNITED 

STATES AND BRITAIN FOR PREVENTING MORE SYMPATHETIC COUNCIL 

MEMBERS FROM PUTTING AN END TO THE SANCTIONS.  HE SAID DESPITE 

RUMORS TO THE CONTRARY, IRAQ NO LONGER HAS PROHIBITED WEAPONS OR 

THE MATERIAL TO PRODUCE THEM.



THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION, HOWEVER, HAS TO PRESENT THE COUNCIL 

WITH A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH ON IRAQ BEFORE ANY ACTION CAN BE 

TAKEN.  IN THE INTERIM, IRAQ IS ALLOWED TO SELL A LIMITED AMOUNT 

OF ITS OIL UNDER U-N SUPERVISION TO RAISE CASH FOR HUMANITARIAN 

PURCHASES. (SIGNED) 



NEB/EJ/RRM 



   



02-Oct-97 5:31 PM EDT (2131 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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