DATE=10/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240612
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / NERVE GAS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  TECHNICAL EXPERTS FROM MORE THAN SEVEN NATIONS MET AT THE
UNITED NATIONS TODAY (THURSDAY) TO DISCUSS TESTS DESIGNED TO SHOW
WHETHER IRAQ PLACED V-X NERVE GAS ON WEAPONS BEFORE THE GULF WAR.
V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS MORE.

TEXT:  THE TWO DAY EXPERTS MEETING IS REVIEWING LABORATORY TESTS 
CARRIED OUT IN FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND ON REMNANTS OF IRAQI 
WEAPONS.  TESTS CARRIED OUT IN THE UNITED STATES EARLIER THIS 
YEAR ON SIMILAR REMNANTS SHOWED TRACES OF THE CHEMICAL NERVE 
AGENT V-X.  MEMBERS OF THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, 
UNSCOM, SAY THEY HOPE THE MEETINGS THIS WEEK WILL LEAD TO MORE 
INFORMATION ON THE EXTENT TO WHICH IRAQ PLACED THE NERVE AGENT ON
WEAPONS.

IRAQ HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED WEAPONIZING THE DEADLY NERVE AGENT.  
IT HAS ACCUSED UNSCOM AND THE UNITED STATES OF FABRICATING 
EVIDENCE IN ORDER TO PROLONG THE WEAPONS INSPECTION PROCESS.  
THAT PROCESS IS REQUIRED BY SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS AND MUST
BE COMPLETED BEFORE SANCTIONS IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR CAN BE 
LIFTED.

U-N SPOKESPERSON MARIE OKABE SAYS THE RESULTS OF THIS WEEK'S 
MEETING WILL BE COMPILED INTO A SPECIAL REPORT AND SUBMITTED TO 
THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON MONDAY.

                        /// OKABE ACT ///

         THIS MEETING WILL ASSESS THE FINAL BATCH OF TEST RESULTS
         FROM A FRENCH LABORATORY AND WILL COMPLETE THE WORK OF A
         TECHNICAL EXPERTS MEETINGS HELD EARLIER THIS MONTH.  A 
         REPORT ON THEIR FINDINGS IS EXPECTED TO GO TO THE 
         SECURITY COUNCIL ON MONDAY.

                         /// END ACT ///

IRAQI OFFICIALS SAY THEY EXPECT THE RESULTS OF THE EUROPEAN LAB 
TESTS ON WEAPON REMNANTS TO UNDERMINE THE U-S TEST RESULTS.  BUT 
UNSCOM OFFICIALS SAY THE U-S TEST RESULTS WERE FULLY VALIDATED BY
THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS AT AN EARLIER MEETING AND THEREFORE WILL 
NOT BE UNDERMINED BY ANY OF THE EUROPEAN RESULTS.  THEY WANT IRAQ
TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT WILL GIVE THEM A CLEAR PICTURE OF HOW
MUCH V-X NERVE AGENT WAS PRODUCED, HOW MUCH WAS WEAPONIZED AND 
WHERE IT IS NOW.

ONE UNSCOM OFFICIAL SAYS THE TESTING PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO THE 
INSPECTION OF A CARPET ON WHICH SOME COFFEE HAS BEEN SPILLED.  
TESTS CARRIED OUT ON DIFFERENT PORTIONS OF THE CARPET, HE SAYS, 
WILL RESULT IN DIFFERENT FINDINGS -- BUT ONLY ONE POSITIVE TEST 
IS NEEDED AS EVIDENCE THAT COFFEE WAS INDEED SPILLED.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WFR

22-Oct-98 5:10 PM EDT (2110 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.