DATE=12/23/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-224460

TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L ONLY)

BYLINE=JESSICA JONES

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  IRAQ HAS ACCUSED THE UNITED STATES OF BLACKMAILING THE 

UNITED NATIONS INTO CRITICIZING IRAQ FOR ITS FAILURE TO ALLOW 

FULL ACCESS TO U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  JESSICA JONES REPORTS 

FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU.



TEXT:  IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, TARIQ AZIZ, TOLD THE 

OFFICIAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY (TUESDAY) THAT A STATEMENT MONDAY BY 

THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL -- IN HIS WORDS-- "REFLECTS THE 

BLACKMAIL PRACTICED  BY AMERICA TO FORCE THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT 

UNBALANCED AND UNOBJECTIVE STANDS."



MR. AZIZ ALSO DISPUTED THE U-N CLAIM THAT IRAQI PRESIDENTIAL 

PALACES MAY BE USED TO SHELTER INFORMATION ON BANNED WEAPONS 

PROGRAMS.  HE SAID THE UNITED NATIONS IS FOCUSING ON WHAT HE 

CALLED "TRIVIAL MATTERS."



ON MONDAY, THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL SAID IRAQ'S FAILURE TO GRANT 

IMMEDIATE AND UNCONDITIONAL ACCESS TO ANY WEAPONS SITE IS  NOT  

ACCEPTABLE AND A VIOLATION OF U-N RESOLUTIONS. 



THE UNITED NATIONS HAS DEMANDED THAT ITS WEAPONS INSPECTORS BE 

ALLOWED TO SEARCH PRESIDENTIAL PALACES FOR INFORMATION ON IRAQI 

WEAPONS PROGRAMS.  BUT IRAQ SAYS THE PALACES ARE SYMBOLS OF 

NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY THAT CANNOT BE OPEN TO OUTSIDE SCRUTINY.



U-N INSPECTORS ARE IN IRAQ TO VERIFY THAT THE COUNTRY HAS 

DISMANTLED  ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  THE U-N SAYS 

THE SANCTIONS WILL NOT  BE ENDED UNTIL IRAQ  COMPLIES WITH THE 

U-N DEMANDS. 



IN THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THE SANCTIONS, THE U-N ALLOWS IRAQ TO 

SELL LIMITED AMOUNTS OF OIL IN EXCHANGE FOR FOOD, MEDICINE, AND 

HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES.  THE THIRD PHASE OF THE OIL-FOR-FOOD PLAN 

IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AS SOON AS U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN 

GIVES HIS FINAL APPROVAL.  (SIGNED) 



NEB/JJ/JWH



23-Dec-97 10:13 AM EST (1513 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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