DATE=1/13/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-225210

TITLE=IRAQ INSPECTIONS/REACT (L ONLY)

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



INTRO:  THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS PLANNING TO ADOPT A FORMAL 

STATEMENT IN THE NEXT DAY OR SO REMINDING IRAQ THAT IT CANNOT 

DICTATE THE TERMS OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.   NEW TENSIONS 

ERUPTED BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND IRAQ WHEN BAGHDAD BARRED A

U-S LED TEAM FROM DOING ITS WORK.  V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ELAINE 

JOHANSON REPORTS. 



TEXT:  AMERICAN SCOTT RITTER IS AT THE CENTER OF THE LATEST 

CONTROVERSY.  BAGHDAD CHARGES HE IS A SPY FOR WASHINGTON AND 

COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE INSPECTIONS.



RICHARD BUTLER -- WHO HEADS THE SPECIAL COMMISSION TRYING TO 

ELIMINATE BANNED WEAPONS IN IRAQ -- SAYS THAT SIMPLY IS NOT TRUE:



                         //BUTLER ACT//



         SCOTT RITTER IS A PROFESSIONAL ARMS CONTROL INSPECTOR.  

         HE'S A MAN OF GREAT ABILITY AND DEDICATION.  HE IS NOT A

         SPY.  HE'S A U-N OFFICIAL.  IRAQ HAS ALWAYS GOT IT WRONG

         -- WHETHER BY INTENTION OR NOT -- WHAT HIS PAST RANK 

         WAS, WHO HE WORKED FOR...IT'S AN UNRESPECTABLE CAMPAIGN 

         AGAINST A PERFECTLY COMPETENT, LOYAL AND TRUTHFUL 

         INDIVIDUAL.



                           //END ACT//



IRAQ COMPLAINED ABOUT A LACK OF COUNTRY BALANCE ON THE INSPECTION

TEAMS WHEN IT TEMPORARILY EXPELLED AMERICAN MEMBERS LAST 

NOVEMBER.  IRAQ STILL INSISTS THE AMERICANS AND THE BRITISH 

DOMINATE THE TEAMS.  SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN CONCEDES THE 

SENSITIVITY OF THE ISSUE BUT SAYS IRAQ CANNOT DICTATE THE 

COMPOSITION OF THE INSPECTION TEAMS.



                          //ANNAN ACT//



         YES, THE COMMISSION AT ITS LAST MEETING SUGGESTED THERE 

         SHOULD BE A BALANCE IN THE COMPOSITION AND MADE 

         RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL, WHICH WERE ENDORSED.  

         BUT THE FACT STILL REMAINS IT IS THE U-N AND UNSCOM (U-N

         SPECIAL COMMISSION) THAT DECIDES WHO PARTICIPATES AND 

         WHO DOES NOT AND HOW THE TEAMS ARE PUT TOGETHER.



                           //END ACT//



THE SPECIAL COMMISSION MAINTAINS THE COMPOSITION IS DETERMINED BY

THE NATURE OF THE SITE TO BE INSPECTED.  THE TEAMS ALSO TEND TO 

HAVE MORE ENGLISH-SPEAKING EXPERTS, SINCE ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL

LANGUAGE OF THE U-N'S DISARMAMENT PROGRAM.



IN ANY CASE,  MR. BUTLER WILL LIKELY HAVE WITH HIM WHEN HE 

RETURNS TO BAGHDAD MONDAY A STRONG ENDORSEMENT FROM THE SECURITY 

COUNCIL.  U-S AMBASSADOR BILL RICHARDSON SAYS HE EXPECTS THE 

COUNCIL TO SEND IRAQ A CLEAR SIGNAL:



                       //RICHARDSON ACT//



         THAT MEANS ACCESS TO ALL SITES.  THAT MEANS NO BLOCKAGES

         IN TERMS OF NATIONALITIES, NO POLITICAL GAMES.  THAT 

         MEANS NO HIDING POTENTIAL WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.



                           //END ACT//



AMERICAN AND BRITISH DIPLOMATS TALK ABOUT CONSEQUENCES FOR IRAQ 

IF IT CONTINUES TO BEHAVE CONTRARY TO SECURITY COUNCIL 

RESOLUTIONS.  WASHINGTON HAS NOT RULED OUT THE MILITARY OPTION,  

BUT SAYS IT FAVORS A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.



//OPT//  BUT WHAT THIS LATEST STAND-OFF DOES MEAN FOR IRAQ, 

ACCORDING TO BRITISH AMBASSADOR JOHN WESTON, IS THE ECONOMIC 

SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER BAGHDAD INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990 WILL 

REMAIN IN PLACE THAT MUCH LONGER.



                         //WESTON ACT//



         IT LOOKS AS IF WE ARE SEEING ONCE AGAIN A PATTERN OF 

         NON-COMPLIANCE WITH IRAQ.  IF THAT IS THE CASE, IT WILL 

         CERTAINLY HAVE CONSEQUENCES AND THOSE CONSEQUENCES WILL 

         NOT BE THE EARLY LIFTING OF THE SANCTIONS THAT IRAQ IS 

         SUBJECT TO.



                     //END ACT//  (END OPT)



U-N OFFICIALS REFER TO THE NEW TENSIONS AS A MINI-CRISIS THAT 

THEY HOPE CAN BE RESOLVED ONCE MR. BUTLER GETS TO BAGHDAD.  IRAQ,

THIS TIME AT LEAST, HAS NOT THREATENED TO EXPEL THE AMERICANS. 

(SIGNED) 



NEB/EJ/RRM 







13-Jan-98 2:49 PM EST (1949 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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