DATE=  10/23/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-221657

TITLE=IRAQ SANCTIONS VOTE (L)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  A LESS THAN UNIFIED UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL 

THURSDAY THREATENED TO IMPOSE A TRAVEL BAN ON SENIOR IRAQI 

OFFICIALS WHO CONTINUE TO BLOCK THE WORK OF U-N WEAPONS 

INSPECTORS.  THE VOTE WAS 10 TO NOTHING -- WITH THREE OF THE FIVE

PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ABSTAINING.  V-O-A'S 

CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:  



TEXT:  THE SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNED IRAQ FOR BARRING ACCESS TO 

WEAPONS SITES, EVEN ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE INSPECTORS ON 

SEVERAL OCCASIONS, AND REMOVING OR DESTROYING DOCUMENTS.  BUT 

EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN TO IMPOSE IMMEDIATE 

SANCTIONS FAILED TO WOO KEY SUPPORT.  EVEN AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN 

THAT WOULD HAVE MADE THE NEW MEASURES AUTOMATIC IN SIX MONTHS WAS

REJECTED.



CHINA, RUSSIA AND FRANCE -- JOINED BY KENYA AND EGYPT -- ALL TO 

VARYING DEGREES SAID THEY OPPOSE MORE SANCTIONS AND BELIEVE IRAQ 

HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN ENOUGH CREDIT FOR PROGRESS IN DISMANTLING ITS 

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.   THE THREE MAJOR POWERS HOLD VETO 

POWER ON THE COUNCIL AND COULD HAVE BLOCKED ANY DECISION.



THE COMPROMISE RESOLUTION FINALLY ADOPTED -- THOUGH WITHOUT THEIR

SUPPORT --SIMPLY EXPRESSES THE COUNCIL'S FIRM INTENTION TO ORDER 

A TRAVEL BAN IN APRIL IF IRAQ DOES NOT FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS.  

IT CALLS FOR THE DRAFTING OF A LIST OF IRAQI OFFICIALS WHO WOULD 

BE SUBJECT TO THE NEW RESTRICTIONS.



THE U-N RESOLUTION ALSO SUSPENDS FURTHER SANCTIONS REVIEWS FOR 

SIX MONTHS -- WHICH MEANS NO POSSIBILITY FOR EASING THE ECONOMIC 

EMBARGO IRAQ HAS BEEN UNDER SINCE IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990.



U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON EXPRESSED DISMAY OVER BAGHDAD'S 

PERSISTENCE IN FLOUTING U-N AUTHORITY:



                       //RICHARDSON ACT//



         IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT AFTER SIX AND A HALF YEARS THIS

         BODY STILL MUST CONSIDER NEW APPROACHES TO CONVINCE IRAQ

         TO COMPLY WITH ITS INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS.  ONLY ONE 

         PARTY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS STATE OF AFFAIRS -- A VERY

         SAD ONE  -- THE BAGHDAD REGIME.



                           //END ACT//



IRAQ HAD THREATENED TO CUT OFF ALL COOPERATION WITH U-N 

INSPECTORS IF NEW SANCTIONS WERE IMPOSED.  IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER

MOHAMMED KAZIM AL-SAHHAF, WHO ATTENDED THE COUNCIL MEETING,  

CALLED THE RESOLUTION THE RESULT OF A "SICK CAMPAIGN" BY THE 

UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN: 



                         //SAHHAF ACT//



         NOW IT IS UP TO OUR LEADERSHIP AND THE IRAQI PEOPLE TO 

         DECIDE WHAT ARE OUR ALTERNATIVES IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR

         COUNTRY AGAINST THIS FLAGRANT PERPARATION TO IMPOSE MORE

         INJUSTICES ON OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE.



                           //END ACT//



BRITISH AMBASSADOR JOHN WESTON BALKED AT THE THREAT, SAYING THE 

COUNCIL WILL NOT BE THROWN OFF COURSE BY IRAQI ATTEMPTS AT 

BLACKMAIL.



                          //REST OPT//



                         //WESTON ACT//



         IF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ CHOOSES TO CHALLENGE THE WILL 

         AND AUTHORITY OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, IT CAN BE 

         SURE OF A FIRM AND PRINCIPLED RESPONSE.  IF IRAQ HAS NOT

         YET UNDERSTOOD THIS, IT HAS UNDERSTOOD NOTHING.



                           //END ACT//



ANY  TRAVEL BANS WOULD REQUIRE A NEW VOTE IN APRIL BEFORE THEY GO

INTO EFFECT.  BARRING ANY DRAMATIC FINDINGS IN IRAQ FROM NOW 

UNTIL THEN -- THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN COULD BE EXPECTED TO 

FACE CONTINUING OPPOSITION FROM RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA. 

(SIGNED)







NEB/PT







23-Oct-97 7:09 PM EDT (2309 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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