DATE=10/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239870
TITLE=U-N - IRAQ / PROGRESS (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IRAQ TODAY (WEDNESDAY) INDICATED IT IS NEARING AGREEMENT 
WITH THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE RESUMPTION OF COOPERATION WITH THE
U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM.  SUCH AN AGREEMENT 
COULD END THE LATEST CRISIS INVOLVING IRAQ, AS WE HEAR FROM OUR 
U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON.

TEXT:  SUGGESTIONS OF PROGRESS CAME AFTER AN HOUR-LONG MEETING AT
U-N HEADQUARTERS BETWEEN IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ 
AND U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN.  THE TWO MEN DISCUSSED MR. 
ANNAN'S PROPOSAL THAT IRAQ RESUME COOPERATION WITH THE U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, IN EXCHANGE FOR A 
COMPREHENSIVE U-N REVIEW OF THE INSPECTION PROCESS.

MR. AZIZ INDICATED THE MAIN OBSTACLE TO AN AGREEMENT NOW IS 
IRAQ'S LACK OF TRUST IN ONE MEMBER OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL -- AN 
APPARENT REFERENCE TO THE UNITED STATES.

                        /// AZIZ ACT ///

         I AM STILL DISTURBED, DISTURBED, BY CERTAIN EFFORTS OR 
         TACTICS MADE BY A VERY FEW MEMBERS, MAYBE ONLY ONE -- I 
         DO  NOT  WANT TO BE VERY OPTIMISTIC IN THIS REGARD.  BUT
         TO BE AS PRECISE AS POSSIBLE, MAYBE ONLY ONE -- WHO IS 
         STILL PUSHING FOR DELAYING TACTICS, PUTTING SOME 
         CONDITIONS, UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS, WHICH ARE NOT IN 
         CONFORMITY EVEN WITH THE LAST SECURITY COUNCIL 
         RESOLUTIONS.

                         /// END ACT ///

UNDER THE PLAN PROPOSED BY THE U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL, IRAQ MUST 
FIRST DEMONSTRATE THAT IT HAS FULLY RESUMED COOPERATION WITH 
UNSCOM BEFORE THE REVIEW CAN BEGIN, A REQUIREMENT THAT COULD TAKE
SEVERAL WEEKS TO VERIFY.  IRAQ SUSPENDED COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM 
IN EARLY AUGUST, CHARGING THAT THE COMMISSION HAS REFUSED TO 
ACKNOWLEDGE IRAQI DISARMAMENT PROGRESS.  THE SECURITY COUNCIL 
RESPONDED BY SUSPENDING THE PROCESS UNDER WHICH SANCTIONS IMPOSED
ON IRAQ AFTER THE GULF WAR ARE REVIEWED.

MR. AZIZ NOW RETURNS TO BAGHDAD TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED PLAN WITH
OTHER IRAQI LEADERS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS MR. AZIZ ASSURED MR. 
ANNAN THAT IRAQ IS PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE UNITED NATIONS IN A 
SERIOUS AND PROFESSIONAL MANNER TO RESOLVE THE PRESENT SITUATION.

BEFORE LEAVING NEW YORK, MR. AZIZ ALSO REJECTED AS FALSIFICATIONS
REPORTS THAT A FRENCH LABORATORY FOUND TRACES OF THE DEADLY V-X 
NERVE GAS ON IRAQI WARHEADS SENT BY THE UNITED STATES FOR 
TESTING.  IRAQ MAINTAINS IT HAS DESTROYED ALL ITS WEAPONS OF MASS
DESTRUCTION, AS REQUIRED BY U-N RESOLUTIONS.  RESOLUTIONS SAY 
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ CANNOT BE LIFTED UNTIL UNSCOM VERIFIES 
THAT IRAQ'S CLAIM IS TRUE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/KL

07-Oct-98 2:30 PM EDT (1830 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.