DATE=  11/10/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222443

TITLE=IRAQ/DIPLOMACY (L)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:



                //ADDS COMMENTS BY TARIQ AZIZ// 



INTRO:  UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN SAYS IRAQ 

REMAINS FIRM ON ITS DEMAND FOR EXPELLING AMERICANS ATTACHED TO 

U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAMS.  MR. ANNAN MET TODAY (MONDAY) WITH 

VISITING DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ WHO HE HAD HOPED WOULD 

BRING A NEW MESSAGE OF FLEXIBILITY FROM BAGHDAD.  V-O-A 

CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:  



TEXT:  THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS HE IS  NOT  GIVING UP HOPE.  HE

SAYS MR. TARIQ AZIZ MAY  NOT  HAVE COME TO NEW YORK WITH ANYTHING

NEW.  BUT THE STALEMATE, HE SAYS, MIGHT STILL BE BROKEN:



                          //ANNAN ACT//



         HE DID  NOT  GIVE ME THE ANSWER I HAD HOPED FOR IN 

         BAGHDAD.  HE  HASN'T  GIVEN IT TO ME YET.  BUT I HOPE 

         ALL IS  NOT  LOST -- THAT THERE COULD BE SOME ROOM FOR 

         MANEUVER, AND THAT IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO WE WILL HAVE 

         THE RIGHT DECISIONS TAKEN.



                           //END ACT//



THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SENT THREE ENVOYS TO BAGHDAD LAST WEEK.  

THEY FAILED TO MOVE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT.  MR. ANNAN HAS NOW 

PULLED BACK HIS PERSONAL INTERVENTION AND GIVEN THE ISSUE BACK TO

THE SECURITY COUNCIL.



MEANWHILE, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ MET WITH THE 

PRESIDENT OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL, CHINA'S U-N AMBASSADOR -- AND 

SEPARATELY WITH RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SERGEI LAVROV, WHOM HE CALLED 

HIS VERY GOOD FRIEND.  RUSSIA, AS WELL AS FRANCE, HAS BEEN 

SYMPATHETIC TO EASING THE SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER IRAQ'S INVASION

OF KUWAIT.  THEY HAVE ALSO SPOKEN OUT AGAINST MILITARY ACTION 

AGAINST IRAQ IN RESPONSE TO THE CRISIS OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.



MR. TARIQ AZIZ HAS ASKED FOR A HEARING IN FRONT OF THE FULL 

COUNCIL TO EXPRESS IRAQ'S GRIEVANCES: 



                          //AZIZ ACT//



         GIVE US A CHANCE.  GIVE US A CHANCE BEFORE STAMPEDING 

         ANOTHER UNJUST RESOLUTION AGAINST IRAQ.  GIVE US A 

         CHANCE, A FIRM CHANCE TO TALK TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.



                           //END ACT//



AS FOR THE AMERICANS LOOKING FOR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION -- 

MR. TARIQ AZIZ SAYS BAGHDAD'S DECISION TO BAN THE AMERICANS IS  

NOT  PERSONAL:



                       //TARIQ AZIZ ACT//



         WE HAVE NOTHING AGAINST THE AMERICANS AS INDIVIDUALS.  

         WE HAVE NOTHING AGAINST AMERICANS AS A NATIONALITY.  WE 

         ARE PROTECTING OURSELVES AGAINST THE MISBEHAVIOR OF 

         THOSE AMERICANS WORKING UNDER THE HEAD OF THE UNITED 

         NATIONS BUT ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTING THE POLICIES BY THE 

         PENTAGON, THE C-I-A AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT.



                           //END ACT//



FOR THE MOMENT,  THE AMERICANS ARE STILL OUT -- STILL UNDER AN 

EXPULSION ORDER, WHILE DIPLOMACY CONTINUES IN NEW YORK. (SIGNED)



NEB/EJ/MMK



10-Nov-97 1:44 PM EST (1844 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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