DATE=11/9/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241408
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS 
NO IMMEDIATE PLANS TO VISIT IRAQ, DESPITE GROWING TENSION IN THE 
REGION AND CALLS BY SOME COUNTRIES FOR HIM TO INTERCEDE IN THE 
LATEST CRISIS INVOLVING THAT COUNTRY.  UNITED NATIONS 
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT:  U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS MR. ANNAN HAS RECEIVED A 
NUMBER OF APPROACHES FROM U-N MEMBER GOVERNMENTS TO INTERCEDE IN 
THE LATEST CRISIS WITH IRAQ.  BUT HE SAYS THE U-N 
SECRETARY-GENERAL HAS NO PLANS AT THIS TIME TO VISIT IRAQ AND 
WILL ONLY INTERCEDE IN THE CRISIS IF ASKED BY THE U-N SECURITY 
COUNCIL.

                       /// ECKHARD ACT ///

         I THINK HE SEES IT ENTIRELY AS A MATTER FOR THE SECURITY
         COUNCIL TO DECIDE.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. ANNAN IS CURRENTLY VISITING NORTH AFRICA.  HE IS SCHEDULED TO
RETURN TO NEW YORK ON NOVEMBER 16TH.  HE PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN 
DEFUSING THE LAST MAJOR CRISIS WITH IRAQ IN FEBRUARY BY 
TRAVELLING TO BAGHDAD AND HOLDING TALKS DIRECTLY WITH IRAQI 
PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.

DIPLOMATS IN THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAVE SAID THEY ARE NOT 
EAGER FOR MR. ANNAN TO LAUNCH ANOTHER SUCH TRIP, AMID CONCERNS 
IRAQ WILL USE IT AS A MEANS FOR DELAYING POSSIBLE PUNITIVE 
MEASURES BY THE COUNCIL.


MR. ECKHARD ALSO DENIED A REPORT THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION 
COMMISSION, UNSCOM, IS PULLING ALL ITS STAFF OUT OF BAGHDAD AS A 
RESULT OF IRAQ'S HALTING OF COOPERATION WITH THE COMMISSION.

HE SAYS UNSCOM HAS MORE THAN 100 STAFF IN IRAQ, WAITING TO RESUME
THE INSPECTION AND MONITORING PROCESS AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE.  HE 
SAYS A TOTAL OF ABOUT 30 PEOPLE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF LEAVING THE
COUNTRY, BUT THEIR DEPARTURE WILL NOT REDUCE UNSCOM'S POTENTIAL 
EFFECTIVENESS IN SEARCHING FOR DETAILS ABOUT IRAQ'S DEVELOPMENT 
OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

THE U-N SPOKESMAN'S REMARKS COME AMID INCREASED SPECULATION ABOUT
POSSIBLE MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ IF IT DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY
RESUME COOPERATION WITH UNSCOM.   (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/RAE

09-Nov-98 2:02 PM EST (1902 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.