DATE=  10/16/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-221347

TITLE=IRAQ / NUKES (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  THE HEAD OF THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY -- 

HANS BLIX -- REPORTED TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL THURSDAY THAT 

HE SEES NO SIGNS OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITY IN IRAQ.  AT THE SAME TIME, 

DIRECTOR-GENERAL BLIX SAID THE NUCLEAR BOOK ON IRAQ REMAINS OPEN 

-- WHICH INDICATES SOME DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT IRAQ'S 

NUCLEAR INTENTIONS.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS.

  



TEXT:  IF THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR ABSOLUTES ABOUT 

IRAQ'S NUCLEAR CAPABILITY, DIRECTOR-GENERAL HANS BLIX SAYS NO 

SUCH THING EXISTS.  HE SAYS HE BELIEVES IRAQ TODAY IS INCAPABLE 

OF LAUNCHING NUCLEAR ATTACKS ON ITS NEIGHBORS.   HE SAYS THE 

ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY HAS DESTROYED EVERYTHING IT FOUND RELATED TO

PAST NUCLEAR PROGRAMS IN IRAQ AND CONTINUES TO MONITOR THE 

COUNTRY.



BUT MR. BLIX CAUTIONS THERE IS ALWAYS THE POSSIBLITY THAT SOME 

ITEMS HAVE BEEN CONCEALED -- SUCH AS COMPONENTS OF CENTRIFUGE 

MACHINES THAT ENRICH URANIUM USED IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  APPARENTLY

THAT WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT.



THE QUESTION NOW SEEMS TO BE POLITICAL.  MR. BLIX SAYS IT WOULD 

BE UP TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL TO DETERMINE WHAT LEVEL OF 

UNCERTAINTY IT CAN LIVE WITH.



                          //BLIX ACT//



         WE DO NOT SEE ANY INDICATION OF ANY ILL HEALTH OR ANY 

         NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES.  THAT'S ALL WE CAN SAY.  I MEAN, IN 

         OUR REPORTS TO OUR BOARD OF GOVERNORS ABOUT THE 

         SAFEGUARDS AROUND THE WORLD, WE DO NOT SAY THERE IS 

         NOTHING.  WE SAY AFTER A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, WE HAVE

         NOT FOUND ANYTHING.  AND IT IS THEN FOR THE GOVERNMENTS 

         TO DECIDE WILL THEY RELY UPON THAT.  THAT IS NOT A 

         TECHNICAL JUDGMENT.



                           //END ACT//



CRITICS HAVE LONG ARUGED THAT ALMOST EVERYTHING THE SECURITY 

COUNCIL DECIDES ABOUT IRAQ AT THIS POINT IS POLITICAL BECAUSE OF 

THE UNITED STATES.    THEY BELIEVE WASHINGTON IS DETERMINED TO 

KEEP PRESSURE ON BAGHDAD AS LONG AS SADDAM HUSSEIN REMAINS IN 

POWER.  IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER U-N SANCTIONS, INCLUDING A STRICT 

TRADE EMBARGO, SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990. 



BUT U-S OFFICIALS ARGUE IT IS BAGHDAD'S CALL TO MAKE.  A NEW 

REPORT BY THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION CHARGED WITH TRACKING AND 

ELIMINATING IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION DETAILS A SERIES 

OF BLOCKED INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ SINCE JUNE AND SAYS IRAQ HAS STILL

NOT SUBMITTED FULL INFORMATION ON ITS BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.



                          //REST OPT//



THE UNITED STATES, BACKED BY BRITAIN, HAS DRAWN UP A  RESOLUTION 

-- WHICH IT HOPES TO PRESENT TO THE COUNCIL NEXT WEEK -- PUTTING 

NEW TRAVEL SANCTIONS ON THE IRAQI MILITARY AND PEOPLE CONNECTED 

WITH IRAQ'S MILITARY INDUSTRIES.  FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA ARE 

LESS INCLINED TO PUNISH IRAQ FURTHER -- AND MORE DEBATE ON THE 

NEW MEASURES IS LIKELY. (SIGNED)



NEB/EJ/RRM     







16-Oct-97 2:23 PM EDT (1823 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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