DATE=  11/7/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-222321

TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (L)

  BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  AFTER THREE DAYS OF TALKS IN BAGHDAD, A TEAM OF UNITED 

NATIONS ENVOYS HAS FAILED TO PERSUADE IRAQ TO REPEAL ITS BAN ON 

AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK OF U-N ARMS INSPECTORS.  IRAQI

DEPUTY PRIME  MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE HE WANTS

TO TRAVEL TO NEW YORK TO CONTINUE THE DISCUSSIONS.  BUT HE HELD 

OUT LITTLE HOPE OF RESOLVING THE CRISIS, AS WE HEAR FROM MIDDLE 

EAST CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS ROBERTS IN CAIRO.



TEXT:   MR. AZIZ ALLEGED THAT THE UNITED STATES CONTROLS AND 

DOMINATES THE U-N WEAPONS COMMISSION.  AND HE CHARGED THAT 

WASHINGTON WILL NEVER ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO CERTIFY IRAQ'S 

COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AS LONG AS THE 

PRESENT IRAQI LEADERSHIP REMAINS IN POWER.



HE INSISTED THAT BAGHDAD HAS ALREADY COMPLIED WITH DEMANDS FOR 

THE ELIMINATION OF ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  BUT HE SAID 

THE UNITED STATES IS PREVENTING THE SECURITY COUNCIL FROM LIFTING

THE CRIPPLING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER IRAQ'S 1990 

INVASION OF KUWAIT.



THE UNITED STATES IS SUPERFICIALLY PROLONGING THE WORK OF THE 

ARMS COMMISSION, SAID MR. AZIZ, TURNING IT INTO AN ENDLESS GAME 

THAT COULD LAST FOR DECADES.  HE SAID: OUR ADVERSARY IS ALSO OUR 

JUDGE, AND THAT IS  NOT  ACCEPTABLE.



THE IRAQI OFFICIAL WAS SPEAKING AFTER A FINAL ROUND OF TALKS WITH

THE THREE ENVOYS DISPATCHED TO BAGHDAD BY U-N SECRETARY GENERAL 

KOFI ANNAN.



THE HEAD OF THE MISSION, FORMER ALGERIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAKHDAR

IBRAHIMI, SAID THE TALKS WERE CONDUCTED IN A GOOD ATMOSPHERE, 

ADDING THAT  HE UNDERSTANDS IRAQ'S IMPATIENCE AND ITS DESIRE TO 

SEE THE U-N SANCTIONS LIFTED.



BUT MR. IBRAHIMI WAS NOT ABLE TO REPORT ANY PROGRESS ON THE U-N'S

KEY DEMAND--THAT IRAQ LIFT ITS BAN ON U-S PARTICIPATION IN THE 

WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.



DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AZIZ SAID IRAQ IS NOT SEEKING A CRISIS, 

ADDING THAT BAGHDAD WANTS THE DIALOGUE WITH THE U-N TO CONTINUE.



THE IRAQI OFFICIAL HAS REQUESTED A U-S VISA, SO THAT HE CAN 

TRAVEL TO NEW  YORK FOR TALKS WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL AND TO 

PRESENT HIS CASE DIRECTLY TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL.



IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID IRAQ WILL NOT CARRY OUT ITS THREAT TO 

EXPEL THE  U-S INSPECTORS, BUT WILL CONTINUE TO PREVENT THEM FROM

PARTICIPATING IN THE WORK OF THE U-N TEAMS.  HE NAMED HALF A 

DOZEN AMERICAN ARMY OFFICERS  SERVING WITH THE U-N COMMISSION 

WHO, HE ALLEGED, HAVE BEEN REPORTING TO U-S MILITARY 

INTELLIGENCE.



HE ALSO REITERATED IRAQ'S THREAT TO SHOOT DOWN U-S RECONNAISSANCE

PLANES THAT ARE USED BY THE U-N COMMISSION TO MONITOR IRAQI 

WEAPONS SITES.  MR.  AZIZ ALLEGED THAT WASHINGTON HAS REPEATEDLY 

USED THE RECONNAISSANCE FLIGHTS TO PREPARE ATTACKS ON IRAQI 

TARGETS. (SIGNED) 



NEB/DBR/PCF/EH



07-Nov-97 8:50 AM EST (1350 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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