DATE=  10/7/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-220944

TITLE=IRAQ/NEW REPORT (L ONLY)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  THE CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR FOR IRAQ SAYS BAGHDAD IS 

STILL IMPEDING THE SEARCH FOR BANNED MATERIALS AND THE SECURITY 

COUNCIL SHOULD INSIST ON ITS COOPERATION.  AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMAT, 

RICHARD BUTLER, HAS SUBMITTED HIS FIRST REPORT TO THE SECURITY 

COUNCIL SINCE HE TOOK OVER IN JULY FROM ROLF EKEUS OF SWEDEN.  

CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON HAS DETAILS.



TEXT:  AMBASSADOR BUTLER'S REPORT NOTES SERIOUS GAPS IN IRAQ'S 

ACCOUNTING OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS.  LAST MONTH, BAGHDAD 

SUBMITTED WHAT IT CALLED A FINAL AND FULL ACCOUNT OF THE BANNED 

ARMS.  BUT EXPERTS FROM 13 COUNTRIES -- AFTER STUDYING THE 

DOCUMENT -- AGREED IT WAS NOT CREDIBLE.



AMBASSADOR BUTLER POINTS TO A PATTERN OF IRAQI INTERFERENCE WITH 

INSPECTIONS SINCE JUNE -- NOTABLY BLOCKING ACCESS TO CERTAIN 

FACILITIES.  HE SAYS HE ALSO HAS EVIDENCE THE IRAQIS DESTROYED 

MATERIAL AND DOCUMENTS AT SO-CALLED SENSITIVE SITES UNDER 

INSPECTION.



IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ WAS MENTIONED PROMINENTLY

IN THE NEW REPORT AS IMPEDING THE WORK OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION 

CHARGED WITH ELIMINATING IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  IN 

ONE CASE, MR. AZIZ IS SAID TO HAVE REFUSED TO LET THE COMMISSION 

LAND A HELICOPTER AT RASHEED AIRBASE.  LAST MONTH, THE IRAQI 

OFFICIAL REPORTEDLY INSTRUCTED HIS EXPERTS NOT TO ANSWER 

QUESTIONS RELATED TO MISSILES.



MR. AZIZ FACES A POSSIBLE TRAVEL BAN AS PART OF NEW SANCTIONS THE

SECURITY COUNCIL, IN JUNE, AGREED TO CONSIDER IF IRAQ CONTINUES 

TO INTERFERE WITH THE INSPECTIONS.  IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER A TOTAL 

TRADE EMBARGO SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990.



                        /// REST OPT ///



ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT, IRAQ HAS ACCOUNTED FOR ALL BUT 

TWO OF THE LONG-RANGE MISSILES IT IMPORTED UNTIL 1988.  THE 

SPECIAL COMMISSION ALSO NOTES SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON CHEMICAL 

WEAPONS.  BUT IT IS LOOKING FOR MISSILE WARHEADS CAPABLE OF 

CARRYING CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL.   (SIGNED) 



NEB/RAE



07-Oct-97 12:52 PM EDT (1652 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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