DATE=  11/3/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222092

TITLE=IRAQ / U-N TEAM ALTERNATE (L-ONLY)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  A THREE-MAN DELEGATION FROM THE UNITED NATIONS IS 

EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN BAGHDAD LATE TUESDAY --PERHAPS EARLY 

WEDNESDAY -- TO TRY TO DEFUSE THE LATEST CRISIS OVER U-N WEAPONS 

INSPECTIONS.  SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN PROPOSED THE MISSION, 

EXPRESSING CONCERN OVER WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS A VERY TENSE AND 

DANGEROUS SITUATION.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON 

REPORTS.  



TEXT:  CALLING THE SITUATION IN IRAQ TENSE AND DANGEROUS IS 

ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING U-N OFFICIALS FEAR THE STAND-OFF COULD LEAD

TO MILITARY ACTION.  THE UNITED STATES HAS NOT RULED OUT ANYTHING

IF IRAQ PERSISTS IN EXPELLING AMERICANS ATTACHED TO THE 

INSPECTION TEAMS.



THE DELEGATION LEADER IS LAKHDAR BRAHIMI, A FORMER FOREIGN 

MINISTER OF ALGERIA. HE WILL BE JOINED BY EMILIO CARDENAS OF 

ARGENTINA, A FORMER U-N AMBASSADOR, AND JAN ELIASSON OF SWEDEN --

THE FORMER HEAD OF THE U-N DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS.   

AMBASSADORS BRAHIMI AND CARDENAS ARE LEAVING FROM NEW YORK FOR 

GENEVA, WHERE THE SWEDISH DIPLOMAT IS AWAITING THEIR ARRIVAL.  

THEY WILL THEN DEPART FOR BAGHDAD.



U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS THIS IS NOT A NEGOTIATING TEAM.  

THEIR MANDATE IS TO PERSUADE SADDAM HUSSEIN TO BACK OFF AND ALLOW

THE INSPECTIONS TO CONTINUE WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE 

AMERICANS.



                         //ECKHARD ACT//



         THERE'S NOTHING TO NEGOTIATE.  ANY SENSE THAT THE 

         SECURITY COUNCIL IS DIVIDED ON THIS ISSUE HAS NOW BEEN 

         DISPELLED AND THE NEXT STEP IS UP TO IRAQ.  AND THIS 

         MISSION IS LOOKING TO FACILITATE THAT NEXT STEP.



                           //END ACT//



THERE IS SOME THOUGHT HERE THAT IRAQ MAY HAVE BEEN RELYING ON THE

CONTINUED SUPPORT OF FRANCE, RUSSIA AND CHINA -- THREE PERMANENT 

MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL WHO RECENTLY BLOCKED EFFORTS BY 

THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN TO IMPOSE NEW SANCTIONS ON BAGHDAD.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, U-N OFFICIALS AND DIPLOMATS HAVE BEEN QUICK 

TO CALL IT A MISCALCULATION.  SECURITY COUNCIL BACKING FOR THE 

SPECIAL COMMISSION CHARGED WITH ELIMINATING BANNED WEAPONS IN 

IRAQ HAS REMAINED UNIFIED.



                          //REST OPT//



SADDAM HUSSEIN'S CALL FOR A DIALOGUE GAVE THE UNITED NATIONS AN 

OPENING.  U-N OFFICIALS ARE NOW HOPEFUL THEY CAN RESOLVE THE 

CRISIS PEACEFULLY.  BUT THE BOTTOM-LINE IS THERE CAN BE NO 

COMPROMISE ON THE COMPOSITION OF U-N INSPECTION TEAMS.  THE 

CHAIRMAN OF THE SPECIAL COMMISSION, RICHARD BUTLER, SAYS THE 

HANDFUL OF AMERICANS INVOLVED HAVE VALUABLE EXPERTISE REQUIRED TO

DO A THOROUGH JOB.



THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO REMAIN IN 

EXISTENCE FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS WHEN IT WAS SET UP IN 1991.  BUT 

U-N OFFICIALS SAY IT SOON BECAME CLEAR THAT IRAQ'S COOPERATION 

WOULD BE SPORADIC AND THE STAFF BECAME PERMANENT. (SIGNED)



NEB/EJ/RRM 







03-Nov-97 1:25 PM EST (1825 UTC)

NNNN



Source: Voice of America

.