DATE=10/30/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-240967
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ DISARMAMENT (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HAS MOVED FORWARD 
WITH MEASURES TODAY (FRIDAY) AIMED AT ENDING THE DEADLOCK WITH 
IRAQ OVER WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.  DIPLOMATS SAY THE MEASURES COULD 
OPEN THE WAY FOR A NEW REVIEW OF IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH COUNCIL 
RESOLUTIONS.  V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON 
REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE COUNCIL COMPLETED A FINAL DRAFT OF A LETTER TO THE U-N
SECRETARY GENERAL OUTLINING ITS RESPONSE TO PROPOSALS FOR A 
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF IRAQ'S COMPLIANCE WITH A SERIES OF 
COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.  THE RESOLUTIONS, APPROVED AFTER THE GULF 
WAR, DEAL PRIMARILY WITH REQUIREMENTS THAT IRAQ DEMONSTRATE IT NO
LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

THE LETTER SAYS THE REVIEW COULD BEGIN WITHIN A VERY SHORT TIME 
AFTER IRAQ RESUMES COOPERATION WITH THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION 
COMMISSION, UNSCOM, AND THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY.  
IRAQ SUSPENDED COOPERATION WITH THOSE AGENCIES IN AUGUST TO 
PROTEST WHAT IT DESCRIBED AS THEIR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED 
RELUCTANCE TO RECOGNIZE IRAQI PROGRESS IN THE DISARMAMENT PROCESS
-- A CHARGE THE TWO AGENCIES DENY.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT JEREMY GREENSTOCK OF BRITAIN SAYS THE LETTER 
PREPARED BY THE COUNCIL PROVIDES ASSURANCES CONCERNING THE BASIC 
STRUCTURE OF THE REVIEW.

                     /// GREENSTOCK ACT ///

         I AM NOT PRETENDING THAT THIS LETTER WOULD SOLVE EVERY 
         DETAIL OF THE POINTS THAT WOULD COME UP UNDER A 
         COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND IN ANY CASE IS NOT AGREED BY 
         MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL AS THE TIME TO DO THAT, SO YOU 
         WOULD HAVE TO EXPECT THERE TO BE MORE DISCUSSION OF 
         DETAILS OF PRECISE CRITERIA AND PRECISE AREAS.

                         /// END ACT ///

IRAQ SAYS IT SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF THE REVIEW, BUT SUSPECTS THAT 
THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN WILL USE IT AS A TOOL TO FURTHER 
CRITICIZE IRAQ.  IRAQ CLAIMS TO HAVE FULFILLED ALL REQUIREMENTS 
SET OUT IN THE RESOLUTIONS REQUIRED FOR THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS 
IMPOSED AFTER THE GULF WAR.  BUT U-S OFFICIALS AND U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS SAY THERE ARE STILL MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS 
CONCERNING IRAQ'S CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS PROGRAMS.  THEY
SAY IRAQ IS WITHHOLDING INFORMATION NEEDED IN THE INSPECTION 
PROCESS.

THE LETTER SAYS THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WOULD BE DIVIDED INTO 
TWO PARTS.  THE FIRST PART FOCUSING ON DISARMAMENT ISSUES, THE 
SECOND ON MISSING KUWAITI PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING KUWAITI 
PROPERTY.  THE LETTER SAYS IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD
OUTLINE CLEARLY IN EACH PHASE REMAINING STEPS TO BE TAKEN BY IRAQ
TO FULFILL ITS OBLIGATIONS WITH THE RESOLUTIONS -- AN APPARENT 
RESPONSE TO IRAQ'S CHARGE THAT IT HAS NOT BEEN GIVEN A CLEAR 
OUTLINE OF WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/BA/JO

30-Oct-98 3:40 PM EST (2040 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.