DATE=9/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239494
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / INSPECTIONS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IRAQ TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ISSUED A NEW CALL FOR THE LIFTING 
OF SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR, BUT FAILED TO OFFER ANY 
NEW PROPOSALS FOR ENDING THE CURRENT DEADLOCK OVER U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTIONS.  CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED 
NATIONS.

TEXT:  IN A SPEECH TO THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY, IRAQI FOREIGN 
MINISTER MOHAMMED SA'ID AL-SAHAF DENOUNCED THE U-N SECURITY 
COUNCIL FOR MAINTAINING SANCTIONS AGAINST HIS COUNTRY.  HE 
REPEATED HIS GOVERNMENT'S CLAIM IT HAS MET ALL DISARMAMENT 
CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS.  

SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, HE SAID THE U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, HAS FAILED TO REPORT ACCURATELY 
ABOUT IRAQ TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND APPEARED TO BLAME 
WASHINGTON FOR THAT ALLEGED FAILURE.

                /// AL-SAHAF INTERPRETER ACT ///

         THE REASON FOR THE FAILURE TO DO SO IS POLITICAL.  THE 
         SPECIAL COMMISSION AND ITS CHAIRMAN OPERATE UNDER THE 
         INFLUENCE OF AN ARROGANT, POWERFUL STATE THAT IS 
         PURSUING POLITICAL ULTERIOR MOTIVES AGAINST IRAQ.  THESE
         ARE MOTIVES THAT HAVE NO RELEVANCE WHATSOEVER TO 
         SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS RELEVANT TO IRAQ.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. AL-SAHAF PLEDGED TO COOPERATE WITH U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI
ANNAN'S PROPOSAL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE INSPECTION 
PROCESS.  BUT HE FAILED TO OFFER ANY NEW SUGGESTIONS FOR 
RESOLVING A DISPUTE WESTERN DIPLOMATS SAY IS CAUSING A NEW CRISIS
CONCERNING IRAQ.

THE DISPUTE WAS TRIGGERED BY IRAQ'S SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION 
WITH UNSCOM, AMID CHARGES UNSCOM HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE PROGRESS
MADE IN DISARMAMENT AREAS.  THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL RESPONDED BY
SUSPENDING THE SANCTIONS REVIEW PROCESS.

MR. AL-SAHAF'S COMMENTS COME AMID NEWS REPORTS IN THE UNITED 
STATES THAT AS RECENTLY AS 1997, IRAQ MANAGED TO MANUFACTURE 
SOPHISTICATED WEAPONS DEVICES -- DESCRIBED AS SHELLS FOR NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS -- DESPITE SANCTIONS AND WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.  

"THE WASHINGTON POST" NEWSPAPER QUOTES U-S GOVERNMENT AND U-N 
SOURCES AS SAYING WITH THE ADDITION OF ENRICHED URANIUM CORES, 
THE DEVICES COULD BE TURNED INTO 20-KILOTON NUCLEAR WEAPONS.  THE
IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER DID NOT COMMENT ON THOSE REPORTS.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/RAE

30-Sep-98 1:18 PM EDT (1718 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.