DATE=1/16/98

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-225384

TITLE=IRAQ/U-N (L)

BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 



///  RE-ISSUING TO CORRECT CR NUMBER ///



INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS WITHDREW AN AMERICAN-LED TEAM OF 

WEAPONS INSPECTORS FROM IRAQ FRIDAY AMID A CONTINUING STAND-OFF 

OVER THE U-N'S EFFORTS TO ENSURE THE ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S 

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS 

ROBERTS HAS DETAILS.



TEXT:   THE U-N TEAM OF ARMS INSPECTORS HEADED BY AMERICAN 

CITIZEN SCOTT RITTER LEFT IRAQ ONE DAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.  BUT 

MR. RITTER TOLD REPORTERS IN BAGHDAD THE DEPARTURE DID  NOT  

SIGNAL A CHANGE IN THE U-N'S DETERMINATION TO CARRY OUT THE 

INSPECTIONS.



MR. RITTER'S GROUP FLEW INTO THE IRAQI CAPITAL LAST SUNDAY.  ITS 

MISSION, ACCORDING TO U-N OFFICIALS, WAS TO CHECK ON REPORTS THE 

IRAQI GOVERNMENT HAD CONDUCTED TESTS OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ON 

HUMAN SUBJECTS.



IRAQI OFFICIALS VEHEMENTLY DENY THE CHARGES.  BUT TWO DAYS AFTER 

MR. RITTER'S ARRIVAL, BAGHDAD BANNED HIS TEAM FROM ANY FURTHER 

INSPECTIONS IN THE COUNTRY.



IRAQI OFFICIALS COMPLAINED THAT MR. RITTER'S GROUP INCLUDES TOO 

MANY U-S AND BRITISH CITIZENS.  IRAQ MAINTAINS THAT WASHINGTON 

AND LONDON ARE MANIPULATING THE INSPECTION PROCESS FOR ESPIONAGE 

PURPOSES AND TO PROLONG THE U-N ECONOMIC EMBARGO IMPOSED ON IRAQ 

AFTER ITS 1990 INVASION OF KUWAIT.



SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS STIPULATE THE SANCTIONS CAN ONLY BE 

LIFTED ONCE THE U-N HAS VERIFIED THE ELIMINATION OF IRAQ'S 

NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS THE

DESTRUCTION OF ITS LONG-RANGE MISSILES.



THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT ALLOWED OTHER U-N TEAMS TO CONTINUE THEIR 

INSPECTIONS, BUT BAGHDAD INSISTED ON CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION 

OF MR. RITTER'S GROUP BEFORE IT CAN BE ALLOWED TO RESUME 

OPERATIONS.



THE SECURITY COUNCIL DEPLORED THE IRAQI MOVE, CALLING IT A 

VIOLATION OF BAGHDAD'S OBLIGATIONS TO THE U-N.



THE HEAD OF THE WEAPONS COMMISSION, AUSTRALIAN DIPLOMAT RICHARD 

BUTLER, IS DUE IN BAGHDAD ON MONDAY FOR TWO DAYS OF TALKS WITH 

IRAQI OFFICIALS.  THE BAN ON MR. RITTER'S TEAM WILL NOT BE THE 

ONLY ITEM ON THE AGENDA OF THOSE TALKS.  THE VISIT BY THE 

COMMISSION CHAIRMAN WAS PLANNED SEVERAL WEEKS AGO TO DISCUSS 

IRAQ'S CONTINUING REFUSAL TO ALLOW INSPECTIONS OF SO-CALLED 

SENSITIVE SITES, INCLUDING DOZENS OF COMPOUNDS BELONGING TO 

PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN. (SIGNED) 



NEB/DBR/PCF



16-Jan-98 10:28 AM EST (1528 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America

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