DATE=  11/9/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222386

TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (L)

BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO: THE CRISIS BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS IS MOVING 

INTO A CRITICAL STAGE.  IRAQ DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ IS 

ENROUTE TO NEW YORK WHERE THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO 

CONVENE MONDAY TO DISCUSS BAGHDAD'S CONTINUING REFUSAL TO ALLOW 

U-S CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK OF THE U-N WEAPONS 

COMMISSION.  BUT THERE ARE FEARS THE CRISIS COULD BOIL OVER 

BEFORE THE SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING, AS WE HEAR FROM MIDDLE EAST 

CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS.

 

TEXT:  ACCORDING TO BAGHDAD NEWSPAPER REPORTS, IRAQI AIR DEFENSE 

UNITS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE ON FULL ALERT, READY TO CARRY OUT 

ORDERS TO SHOOT DOWN U-S RECONNAISSANCE PLANES, ON LOAN TO THE 

U-N TO MONITOR IRAQI WEAPONS SITES.

 

THE RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS WERE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED LAST WEEK 

AS A TEAM OF U-N DIPLOMATS TRAVELLED TO BAGHDAD IN WHAT PROVED AN

UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE THE CRISIS.

 

THE HEAD OF THE U-N WEAPONS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMAT 

RICHARD BUTLER, HAS SAID THE FLIGHTS OVER IRAQ WILL RESUME 

MONDAY.  AMERICAN OFFICIALS HAVE WARNED BAGHDAD ANY ATTEMPT TO 

SHOOT DOWN THE PLANES WOULD BE CONSIDERED AN ACT OF WAR.

 

AMID THE RISING TENSION, IRAQ MAINTAINED ITS REFUSAL TO ALLOW U-S

CITIZENS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.

 

THREE TEAMS OF INSPECTORS SET OUT (SUNDAY) FROM THEIR BAGHDAD 

HEADQUARTERS TO CONTINUE PROBES INTO IRAQ'S CHEMICAL AND 

BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS AND ITS MISSILE PRODUCTION 

CAPABILITY.

 

BUT IRAQI OFFICIALS REFUSED TO ALLOW AMERICAN MEMBERS OF THE 

TEAMS TO ENTER WEAPONS SITES, AND THE INSPECTIONS WERE CALLED OFF

FOR THE SEVENTH DAY IN A ROW.

 

U-N OFFICIALS HAVE VOICED FEARS IRAQ MAY BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF 

THE HALT IN INSPECTIONS TO CONCEAL EVIDENCE OR MOVE AHEAD WITH 

THE PRODUCTION OF BANNED WEAPONS.

 

THE U-N HAS ACCUSED IRAQ OF REMOVING EQUIPMENT FROM SOME SITES 

AND TAMPERING WITH U-N SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS.  IRAQ DENIES IT HAS 

CARRIED OUT PROHIBITED ACTIVITY.  IRAQI OFFICIALS ACKNOWLEDGE 

SOME EQUIPMENT WAS MOVED, BUT ONLY AS A PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE OUT

OF CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBILITY OF U-S ATTACKS.

 

BAGHDAD IS DEMANDING CHANGES IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE U-N WEAPONS 

COMMISSION, TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF AMERICAN PARTICIPATION.  IRAQ 

ALSO WANTS THE U-N TO SET A TIMETABLE FOR THE LIFTING OF THE 

ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER ITS 1990 INVASION OF KUWAIT.

 

SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS STIPULATE THE SANCTIONS CAN ONLY BE 

LIFTED AFTER THE U-N VERIFIES THE ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS 

OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  IRAQ CONTENDS WASHINGTON WILL NOT ALLOW 

VERIFICATION TO BE ISSUED AS LONG AS THE PRESENT IRAQI LEADERSHIP

REMAINS IN POWER.  (SIGNED) 



NEB/DBR/DW/RAE



09-Nov-97 11:57 AM EST (1657 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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