DATE=8/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237781
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ INSPECTORS (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTION 
COMMISSION, UNSCOM, TODAY (THURSDAY) DENIED REPORTS THAT THE U-N 
SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE UNITED STATES ARE PREVENTING HIM FROM 
CARRYING OUT HIS DISARMAMENT WORK IN IRAQ.  V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON 
REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT:  THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION CHAIRMAN, RICHARD 
BUTLER, SAYS HE FREQUENTLY DISCUSSES DISARMAMENT ISSUES WITH 
REPRESENTATIVES OF U-N MEMBER STATES.  BUT HE SAYS THOSE 
DISCUSSIONS HAVE NEVER INTERFERED WITH HIS DECISIONS ON HOW TO 
PROCEED WITH HIS COMMISSION'S TASK OF DISARMING IRAQ.

                       /// BUTLER ACT ///

         THERE HAS BEEN A CLAIM THAT I HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF 
WHAT MIGHT BE CALLED EXTREME OR UNDUE PRESSURE BY SENIOR 
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE U-S GOVERNMENT.  I SAID LAST WEEK AND WANT
TO REPEAT THAT IS UTTERLY FALSE.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. BUTLER'S DENIAL FOLLOWED THE RESIGNATION OF ONE OF UNSCOM'S 
MOST PROMINENT MEMBERS, SCOTT RITTER, AND NEWS REPORTS OF GROWING
DISSENSION BETWEEN MR. BUTLER AND THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.

MR. RITTER, IN HIS LETTER OF RESIGNATION, CHARGES THAT 
INTERFERENCE BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE UNITED STATES HAVE 
REDUCED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF UNSCOM IN IRAQ.  HE SAYS THEY HAVE 
NOT ACTED FORCEFULLY ENOUGH IN DEALING WITH IRAQ'S OBSTACLES TO 
THE COMMISSION'S WORK.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS, MR. BUTLER BLAMED IRAQ FOR ANY LACK OF 
EFFECTIVENESS IN THE COMMISSION'S WORK.  HE SAID HE IS CONFIDENT 
THE SECURITY COUNCIL SUPPORTS UNSCOM.  REGARDING REPORTS THAT 
SENIOR AIDES TO U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN WOULD LIKE MR. 
BUTLER TO RESIGN, MR. BUTLER SAID HE IS NOT CONSIDERING SUCH A 
MOVE.

U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHART SAYS THAT MR. ANNAN CONTINUES TO 
SUPPORT MR. BUTLER'S APPOINTMENT AS UNSCOM EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN.

IRAQ HAS BLAMED MR. BUTLER PERSONALLY FOR WHAT IT SEES AS THE 
UNREASONABLY SLOW PACE OF UNSCOM'S WORK.  IRAQ SAYS IT HAS MET 
ALL DISARMAMENT REQUIREMENTS AND THAT SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE
GULF WAR AND TIED TO THOSE REQUIREMENTS SHOULD BE LIFTED.  MR. 
BUTLER SAYS IRAQ HAS NOT YET PROVIDED SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO 
PROVE ITS CLAIM THAT IT NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.  (SIGNED)

NEB/MPR/LSF/LTD/PLM

27-Aug-98 3:42 PM EDT (1942 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.