DATE=  11/7/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222333

TITLE=IRAQ/NEXT STEP (L ONLY)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: // RE-RUNNING W/ NUMBER // 



INTRO:  UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS ON THE 

VERGE OF SENDING THE CRISIS WITH IRAQ OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS 

BACK TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  A SPOKESMAN SAYS MR. ANNAN IS 

CUTTING SHORT A VISIT TO SOUTH AMERICA BY ONE DAY -- RETURNING TO

NEW YORK LATE SUNDAY.  VOA CORRESPONDENT ELAINE JOHANSON REPORTS:



TEXT:  SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN PLANS TO MEET  WITH THE THREE 

ENVOYS HE HAD SENT TO BAGHDAD TO TRY TO PERSUADE IRAQ TO 

COOPERATE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS.  ACCORDING TO U-N SPOKESMAN 

FRED ECKHARD, THOSE DISCUSSIONS WILL BE KEY TO HOW THE SECURITY 

COUNCIL REACTS TO IRAQ'S CONTINUING REFUSAL TO LET AMERICANS TAKE

PART IN U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS:



                         //ECKHARD ACT//



         IT APPEARS THAT HIS OFFER OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLIMB 

         DOWN HAS BEEN REJECTED.  AND SO HE WILL DISCUSS WITH THE

         THREE ENVOYS ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY MORNING THEIR 

         APPROACH TO THE COUNCIL MONDAY AFTERNOON AND THE MATTER 

         WILL NOW GO TO THE COUNCIL.



                           //END ACT//



IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MNISTER TARIQ AZIZ HAS EXPRESSED A WISH TO BE

PRESENT IN NEW YORK FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING -- WHICH, AT LEAST ON

MONDAY, WILL BE HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.



THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SIGNALLED HIS UNHAPPINESS WITH IRAQ'S 

FAILURE TO YIELD TO DIPLOMACY IN A STATEMENT LATE THURSDAY FROM 

SANTIAGO, CHILE.  HE SAID HE WOULD DISCONTINUE HIS PERSONAL 

INTERVENTION IF IRAQ DID NOT RESPOND POSITIVELY. 



BY DECIDING TO SEND AN URGENT MISSION TO IRAQ, THE 

SECRETARY-GENERAL TOOK THE ISSUE TEMPORARILY OUT OF THE  HANDS OF

THE  COUNCIL  -- WHERE THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN, IN 

PARTICULAR,  WERE MOST ANXIOUS NOT TO LET SADDAM HUSSEIN GET AWAY

WITH YET ANOTHER SHOW OF DEFIANCE AGAINST U-N RESOLUTIONS.



THE ENVOYS ARE BRINGING BACK TO NEW YORK A LETTER FROM THE IRAQI 

GOVERNMENT.  BUT UNLESS IT CONTAINS SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT 

FROM WHAT MR. TARIQ AZIZ HAS ALREADY SAID PUBLICLY,  THE SECURITY

COUNCIL CAN BE EXPECTED TO FEEL PRESSURE TO ACT IN DEFENSE OF THE

SPECIAL COMMISSION IT CREATED IN 1991 TO RID IRAQ OF ITS WEAPONS 

OF MASS DESTRUCTION. (SIGNED)



NEB/EJ/EH 



         







07-Nov-97 1:29 PM EST (1829 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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