DATE=8/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236691
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N FRIDAY (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  U-N WEAPONS MONITORS IN IRAQ WENT ABOUT THEIR WORK 
NORMALLY FRIDAY, TWO DAYS AFTER IRAQ SUSPENDED COOPERATION WITH 
THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION THAT OVERSEES THE ELIMINATION OF 
IRAQ'S WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  HOWEVER, V-O-A MIDDLE EAST 
CORRESPONDENT SCOTT BOBB REPORTS THAT INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY
MONITORS HAVE SUSPENDED THEIR INSPECTIONS OF NUCLEAR SITES.

TEXT:  THE U-N WEAPONS MONITORS WENT OUT FRIDAY, ACCOMPANIED AS 
USUAL BY THEIR IRAQI ESCORTS.  THE INSPECTORS DID  NOT  SPEAK TO 
REPORTERS, REFERRING ALL QUESTIONS TO U-N HEADQUARTERS IN NEW 
YORK. 

INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY INSPECTORS, HOWEVER, SAID THEY HAVE 
HALTED THEIR WORK VOLUNTARILY.

IT WAS A SECOND DAY OF OPERATIONS FOR U-N MONITORS SINCE IRAQ 
ANNOUNCED IT WAS SUSPENDING COOPERATION WITH THE U-N SPECIAL 
COMMISSION THAT OVERSEES IRAQ'S DISARMAMENT PROGRAM.  THE 
GOVERNMENT ALSO SAID WEDNESDAY IT WAS PROHIBITING SURPRISE 
INSPECTIONS OF POSSIBLE WEAPONS SITES UNTIL U-N ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ ARE ENDED.

IRAQ'S ANNOUNCEMENT FOLLOWED A MEETING LAST MONDAY BETWEEN CHIEF 
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER AND IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ.  DURING THE MEETING, THE IRAQI OFFICIAL 
REPORTEDLY DEMANDED IMMEDIATE CERTIFICATION THAT IRAQ HAS 
ELIMINATED ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THIS 
CERTIFICATION IS NEEDED BEFORE U-N OFFICIALS WILL LIFT ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS THAT HAVE SERIOUSLY HURT THE IRAQI ECONOMY.

MR. BUTLER REPORTEDLY REFUSED, LEADING TO AN EARLY END TO THE 
TALKS AND TO HIS VISIT.

                       ///  REST OPT  ///

THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL THURSDAY REACTED TO THE DEVELOPMENTS,  
CALLING THE SUSPENSION OF THE U-N INSPECTIONS TOTALLY 
UNACCEPTABLE AND A VIOLATION OF AN ACCORD LAST FEBRUARY THAT  
DEFUSED A CRISIS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES AND A U-S MILITARY 
BUILD-UP IN THE REGION.

THE COUNCIL, IN A SIGNAL THAT IT WISHES TO AVOID A NEW 
CONFRONTATION, CALLED FOR INCREASED DIALOGUE AND SAID IT INTENDED
TO RESPOND FAVORABLY TO FUTURE PROGRESS IN IRAQ'S DISARMAMENT 
PROGRAM.

U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TOLD REPORTERS HE HAD SPOKEN TO 
MR. AZIZ AND HAD DETECTED SOME FLEXIBILITY IN IRAQ'S NEW 
POSITION.  HE SAID THE IRAQI OFFICIAL EXPRESSED A DEGREE OF 
FRUSTRATION THAT THE SANCTIONS WERE CONTINUING, DESPITE WHAT WAS 
PERCEIVED AS CONSIDERABLE IRAQI EFFORTS TO COMPLY WITH U-N 
DEMANDS.

MR. ANNAN SAID IT WAS TIME TO REASSESS THE SITUATION AND ADDED 
THAT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH THE IRAQIS IN 
THE FUTURE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH/RRM

07-Aug-98 8:46 AM EDT (1246 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.