DATE=8/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237096
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS TODAY (FRIDAY) DENIED A NEWSPAPER 
REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN INTERVENED WITH U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO DISCOURAGE THEM FROM CARRYING OUT SURPRISE 
INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND REPORTS 
FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION IN CHARGE OF WEAPONS 
INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ DESCRIBES AS FALSE A REPORT THAT THE 
COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BUTLER, ACCEPTED WHAT THE COMMISSION
CALLS "EXTERNAL DIRECTION."

IN A STATEMENT TO REPORTERS, THE COMMISSION -- KNOWN AS UNSCOM --
SAYS ALL POLICY DECISIONS ON ITS ACTIVITIES ARE TAKEN BY THE U-N 
SECURITY COUNCIL BUT OPERATIONAL DECISIONS ARE TAKEN BY MR. 
BUTLER. THE STATEMENT SAYS MR. BUTLER WOULD FIND IT "INVIDIOUS" 
WERE ANY ATTEMPT MADE TO DIRECT HIS OPERATIONAL DECISIONS OR TO 
MICRO-MANAGE THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTORS.

THE WASHINGTON POST, IN A FRONT-PAGE STORY, SAYS THE CLINTON 
ADMINISTRATION INTERVENED SECRETLY FOR MONTHS TO DISSUADE U-N 
WEAPONS TEAMS FROM CARRYING OUT SURPRISE INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ, TO 
AVOID A NEW CRISIS WITH THAT COUNTRY. THE NEWSPAPER SAYS A 
BRITISH DIPLOMAT ALSO ADVISED MR. BUTLER THAT IT WAS NOT A GOOD 
TIME FOR WHAT WOULD BE SEEN BY IRAQ AS A PROVOCATIVE INSPECTION. 
ACCORDING TO THE NEWSPAPER, U-S SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT ALSO 
SPOKE WITH MR. BUTLER AND AS A RESULT, THE SURPRISE INSPECTIONS 
WERE CALLED OFF.

                        /// REST OPT ///

EARLIER THIS MONTH, IRAQ SUSPENDED ITS COOPERATION WITH THE U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTORS, ARGUING THAT IT HAS ALREADY MET ALL 
INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS. A UNITED NATIONS ENVOY HELD TALKS IN 
IRAQ THURSDAY WITH IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ AND 
TOLD HIM THAT THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS UNANIMOUSLY URGED IRAQ
TO COOPERATE WITH THE INSPECTORS. 

EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MR. BUTLER TOLD THE SECURITY COUNCIL THAT, 
BECAUSE OF IRAQ'S REFUSAL TO COOPERATE WITH U-N INSPECTORS, THE 
EXAMINATION OF SITES IN IRAQ WHERE BANNED WEAPONS ARE SUSPECTED 
OF BEING STORED OR PRODUCED HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO A HALT AND THE 
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INSPECTORS' MONITORING ACTIVITIES HAS BEEN 
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED.

ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST,  BEFORE THEIR SURPRISE 
INSPECTIONS WERE CANCELLED, THE INSPECTORS HAD PLANNED ON LOOKING
AT TWO SITES WHERE THEY BELIEVED THEY WOULD FIND FORBIDDEN 
WEAPONS COMPONENTS AND DOCUMENTS DESCRIBING IRAQI EFFORTS TO 
CONCEAL THEM. (SIGNED)

NEB/NY/LSF/JO  

14-Aug-98 12:47 PM EDT (1647 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.