DATE=10/1/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239556
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ CRISIS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS SAY (THURSDAY) PROGRESS IS BEING
MADE IN TALKS WITH IRAQI OFFICIALS AIMED AT ENDING THE DEADLOCK 
OVER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.  V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS 
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS THE STORY.

TEXT:  TALKS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK BETWEEN 
U-N NEGOTIATORS AND IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ, WHO 
IS IN NEW YORK FOR THE OPENING OF THE U-N GENERAL ASSEMBLY.  U-N 
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN MET WITH MR. AZIZ MONDAY AND 
ATTENDED A WORKING DINNER AT THE IRAQI MISSION ON WEDNESDAY.

U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THOSE 
MEETINGS TOWARDS ENDING IRAQ'S SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION WITH THE
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM.

                       /// ECKHARD ACT ///

         THEY DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR IRAQ TO COME BACK INTO FULL 
         COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS, WHICH OF 
         COURSE IS A PRECONDITION FOR PROCEEDING WITH THE 
         COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW THAT IS BEING DISCUSSED.  THE 
         SECRETARY-GENERAL FEELS THAT THEY ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. ECKHARD DID NOT SPECIFY WHAT SORT OF PROGRESS WAS MADE.

IRAQ'S FOREIGN MINISTER, IN A SPEECH TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THIS
WEEK, INDICATED NO MOVEMENT ON THE ISSUE.  IRAQ SAYS ITS 
SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION IS JUSTIFIED BECAUSE IT BELIEVES UNSCOM
IS REFUSING TO RECOGNIZE IRAQI PROGRESS IN DISARMAMENT AREAS.  
MR. ANNAN HAS PROMISED A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE INSPECTION 
PROCESS TO ENSURE IT IS FAIR, PROVIDED IRAQ FIRST RESUMES 
COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM.  THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS DENOUNCED 
IRAQ'S SUSPENSION OF COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM AND APPROVED A 
RESOLUTION REMINDING IRAQ OF ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER RESOLUTIONS 
APPROVED AFTER THE GULF WAR.

UNSCOM CHAIRMAN RICHARD BUTLER ALSO EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE 
NEGOTIATIONS WILL LEAD TO A BREAKTHROUGH AND INDICATED IRAQ MAY 
BE SHOWING MORE FLEXIBILITY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS THAN IN ITS  
FOREIGN MINISTER'S SPEECH TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

                       /// BUTLER ACT ///

         THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND OTHERS ARE AT WORK IN 
         IMPORTANT DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATIONS WHICH I HOPE WILL LEAD
         TO IRAQ CONFORMING WITH RESOLUTION 11-94.  I AM GOING TO
         LEAVE THEM THE SPACE TO GET THAT DONE AND STAY OUT OF 
         THE SORT OF RHETORICAL PART OF WHICH THAT SPEECH WAS AN 
         EXAMPLE, AND I AM HOPEFUL WE WILL GET A GOOD CONCLUSION 
         SOON.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. BUTLER ALSO EXPRESSED SOME FRUSTRATION ABOUT THE RELEASE OF 
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INSPECTION PROCESS BY 
FORMER UNSCOM INSPECTOR SCOTT RITTER.  HE SAID HE SENT A LETTER 
TO MR. RITTER REMINDING HIM OF HIS OBLIGATION NOT TO RELEASE SUCH
INFORMATION.  MR. RITTER RESIGNED FROM UNSCOM IN AUGUST, AND HAS 
PUBLICLY QUESTIONED ITS EFFECTIVENESS SINCE THAT TIME.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PLM

01-Oct-98 3:25 PM EDT (1925 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.