DATE=11/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241676
TITLE=IRAQ CRISIS 2ND UPDATE (L)
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=AMMAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE U-N SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE IN BAGHDAD SAYS SADDAM 
HUSSEIN HAS AGREED TO LET U-N INSPECTIONS RESUME WITHOUT 
CONDITION.  U-N SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN HAS SAID HE IS 
SATISFIED WITH THE LETTER FROM IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, BUT 
THE FINAL ACCEPTANCE IS UP THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL.  WASHINGTON 
IS RESERVING JUDGMENT UNTIL IT STUDIES THE CONTENTS OF THE 
LETTER.  CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM AMMAN THAT THE
NEW DEVELOPMENTS COULD EASE THE CRISIS. 
 
TEXT: U-N SPECIAL ENVOY PRAKASH SHAH TOLD REPORTERS IN BAGHDAD 
THERE ARE  NO  CONDITIONS IN THE LETTER THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP HAS 
SENT TO THE U-N SECRETARY, SAYING IT AGREES TO RESUME COOPERATION
WITH U-N INSPECTORS.
 
/// OPT SHAH ACT ///
 
AND TO ALLOW THEM TO PERFORM THEIR NORMAL DUTIES IN ACCORDANCE 
WITH THE RELEVANT RESOLUTIONS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL AND ON THE 
BASIS OF THE PRINCIPLES THAT WERE AGREED UPON IN THE MEMORANDUM 
OF UNDERSTANDING, WHICH WAS SIGNED BETWEEN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER 
TARIQ AZIZ AND THE U-N SECRETARY GENERAL
 
//END ACT//
 
THE LETTER, SIGNED BY DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ, WAS 
DELIVERED TO MR ANNAN IN NEW YORK BY IRAQ'S U-N AMBASSADOR.
 
AN IRAQI T-V REPORT QUOTES THE LETTER AS STATING THE CHANGE OF 
ATTITUDE WAS NOT MADE FROM FEAR OF U-S AGGRESSION BUT RATHER IN 
RESPONSE TO APPEALS FROM MR ANNAN AND RUSSIA.  THE LETTER GOES ON
TO SAY IRAQ WILL BE WAITING TO SEE THE RESULTS OF MR ANNAN'S 
PROMISED EFFORT TOWARD LIFTING THE U-N SANCTIONS, WHICH WERE 
IMPOSED NEARLY EIGHT YEARS AGO.  
 
ALTHOUGH MR ANNAN'S PLEDGE DOES NOT OFFICIALLY REPRESENT THE U-N 
SECURITY COUNCIL, IT MAY HAVE BEEN ENOUGH OF A FACE-SAVING 
GESTURE TO GIVE SADDAM HUSSEIN A WAY OUT OF THE CRISIS.
 
IRAQI T-V QUOTES THE IRAQI LETTER AS REQUESTING THAT A 
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE SANCTIONS REGIME GET UNDERWAY AS SOON
AS A WEEK AFTER THE U-N INSPECTORS RETURN TO THEIR JOBS IN IRAQ. 
 
THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL HAS REFUSED TO APPROVE ENDING THE 
EMBARGO UNTIL U-N INSPECTORS VERIFY IRAQ HAS COMPLIED WITH ALL 
U-N DEMANDS TO SCRAP ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.(SIGNED)
 
 NEB/LMK/DW/GE

14-Nov-98 12:11 PM EST (1711 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.