DATE=8/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237795
TITLE=RITTER / UNSCOM RESIGNATION (L-O)
BYLINE=JESSICA BERMAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A TOP UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTOR RESIGNED WEDNESDAY
FROM THE U-N COMMISION CHARGED WITH FINDING AND DISMANTLING IRAQI
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  AMERICAN SCOTT RITTER ACCUSES THE 
U-N SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE UNITED STATES OF FAILING TO TAKE 
STRONG ACTION AGAINST IRAQ, WHICH CONTINUES ITS REFUSAL TO COMPLY
WITH INSPECTIONS ORDERS.  

IN AN INTERVIEW WITH VOA, MISTER RITTER DISCUSSED HIS DECISION TO
RESIGN FROM THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM, KNOWN AS UNSCOM.  
V-O-A'S JESSICA BERMAN REPORTS.



TEXT:   IN AN INTERVIEW WITH VOA NEWS NOW, SCOTT RITTER DENIES 
THAT HE LEFT UNSCOM IN ANGER.  RATHER, THE VETERAN ARMS INSPECTOR
-- KNOWN FOR HIS AGGRESSIVE SEARCHES OF SUSPECTED IRAQI WEAPONS 
SITES -- SAYS HE IS SORELY DISAPPOINTED BY WHAT HE SEES AS 
AMERICAN AND U-N SECURITY COUNCIL INACTION AGAINST BAGHDAD.

                    /// RITTER ACTUALITY ///

         EVERY TIME THE IRAQ OBSTRUCTS THE SPECIAL COMMISSION, 
         THE SECURITY COUNCIL TAKES A SOFT STANCE.  IRAQ GETS 
         STRONGER -- THEY GET MORE CONCESSIONS.  AND IT MAKES IT 
         MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE SECURITY COUNCIL NEXT TIME TO 
         TAKE A WHAT I BELIEVE TO THE THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO
         COMPEL IRAQ, TO BRING IRAQ BACK INTO THE FOLD, IN 
         COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THEIR OWN RESOLUTIONS.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

THE UNITED NATIONS ISSUED A STATEMENT, REJECTING MISTER RITTER'S 
CHARGES AS UNTRUE AND UNFAIR.  AND ON THURSDAY, U-S SECRETARY OF 
STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT STRONGLY DEFENDED UNSCOM'S INSPECTION 
REGIME IN IRAQ.  

IRAQ SUSPENDED COOPERATION WITH THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM 
EARLIER THIS MONTH.  THE SECURITY COUNCIL THREATENED SEVERE 
CONSEQUENCES, BUT BAGHDAD HAS NOT BUDGED.  SO FAR, NEITHER THE  
SECURITY COUNCIL NOR THE UNITED STATES HAS TAKEN ANY FIRM ACTION 
AGAINST IRAQ.  

RETIRED COLONEL AND TERRORISM EXPERT JAMIE GOUGH SUPPORTS SENIOR 
WEAPONS INSPECTOR SCOTT RITTER'S DECISION TO LEAVE UNSCOM.  
COLONEL GOUGH SAYS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTION PROGRAM IS A LACK OF CONSISTENCY.

                     /// GOUGH ACTUALITY ///

         CONFUSING THE ISSUE ONLY PROMOTES THE KIND OF REACTION 
         THAT WILL BE MORE ADVENTUROUS ON THE PART OF THE 
         TYRRANT.  THEY WILL SEE THIS AS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS, OF 
         COURSE, AND I'M SURE THAT'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT 
         SCOTT HAD WITH IT AND, CERTAINLY, THAT ANYONE ELSE THAT 
         HAS A SENSE OF MILITARY STRATEGY HAS WITH IT... IS THAT 
         IT WILL PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE FURTHER INCURSIONS AND 
         ADVERTURISMS ON THE PART OF SADDAM HUSSEIN, FOR SURE.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

COLONEL GOUGH SAYS AN ALTERNATIVE TO DOING NOTHING IN RESPONSE TO
IRAQ'S INTRANSIGENCE WOULD BE TO USE MISSILES TO DESTROY ITS 
SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES.

FOR ITS PART, BAGHDAD IS WELCOMING NEWS OF SCOTT RITTER'S 
RESIGNATION.  IRAQ HAS LONG ACCUSED HIM OF BEING A SPY.

IRAQ AGREED TO THE U-N RESOLUTION THAT ESTABLISHED THE WEAPONS 
INSPECTION PROGRAM SEVEN YEARS AGO, IN EXCHANGE FOR AN END TO THE
PERSIAN GULF WAR.  (SIGNED)



NEB/JB/PT

27-Aug-98 7:43 PM EDT (2343 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.