DATE=10/26/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240743
TITLE=IRAQ/ VX (S & L)
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: A NEW REPORT BY UNITED NATIONS CHEMICAL WEAPONS EXPERTS 
HAS CONFIRMED EARLIER FINDINGS THAT IRAQ FILLED ITS MISSILE 
WARHEADS WITH THE LETHAL NERVE GAS, KNOWN AS V-X.   CORRESPONDENT
BARBARA SCHOETZAU REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE RESULTS 
OF LABORATORY TESTS CONDUCTED ON IRAQI WARHEAD FRAGMENTS.    

TEXT: A NEW REPORT BY CHEMICAL WEAPONS EXPERTS FOR THE U-N 
SECURITY COUNCIL CONFIRMS EARLIER AMERICAN TESTS SHOWING IRAQ PUT
V-X NERVE GAS ON MISSILE WARHEADS. 

ACCORDING TO THE NEW REPORT, A FRENCH LABORATORY ALSO FOUND A 
PRODUCT ASSOCIATED WITH DEGRADED NERVE AGENTS.    

THE REPORT IS BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF A GROUP OF 17 SCIENTISTS 
FROM SEVEN NATIONS WHICH ANALYZED FINDINGS FROM GOVERNMENT 
LABORATORIES IN FRANCE, THE UNITED STATES, AND SWITZERLAND FROM 
FRAGMENTS OF IRAQI WARHEADS.

IRAQ HAS PREVIOUSLY ADMITTED USING TWO OTHER NERVE GASES BUT HAS 
CONSISTENTLY DENIED LOADING V-X IN WEAPONS.  

                 ///// REST OPT FOR LONG CR /// 

IN JUNE, WHEN A U -S LABORATORY FIRST SAID IT FOUND TRACES OF THE
NERVE GAS ON THE FRAGMENTS IT WAS ANALYZING, IRAQ INSISTED THAT 
FRENCH AND SWISS LABORATORIES DUPLICATE THE TESTS.  

THE REPORT SAYS THE FRENCH LAB FOUND A TRACE OF A NERVE AGENT ON 
AN IRAQI MISSILE WARHEAD.  OTHER TESTS FOUND TRACES OF A 
DECONTAMINATION PRODUCT WHICH SUGGESTS AN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE  
EVIDENCE OF ANY NERVE GAS.

SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT JEREMY GREENSTOCK SAYS HE EXPECTS TO 
SCHEDULE A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE NEW REPORT SOON.  

                     /// GREENSTOCK ACT ///

         IT IS OBVIOUSLY HELPFUL THAT THE PREVIOUS REPORTS SEEM 
         TO HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED AND THERE IS A CLEARER 
         EXPLANATION IN THIS REPORT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IN WHAT 
         THERE IS THERE. WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE WHOLE PROCESS IS
         SOMETHING I AM NOT YET READY TO COMMENT ON.

                         /// END ACT ///

IRAQ HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS SINCE 
AUGUST 5TH.  THE SECURITY COUNCIL WILL NOT LIFT THE SANCTIONS 
IMPOSED ON IRAQ AFTER IT INVADED KUWAIT IN 1990 UNTIL A SPECIAL 
COMMISSION CERTIFIES THAT IRAQ HAS DESTROYED ALL OF ITS 
BIOLOGICAL, CHEMICAL AND NUCLEAR WEAPONS. (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/BJS/LSF/WFR   

26-Oct-98 5:07 PM EST (2207 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.