DATE=11/15/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241694
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / SECURITY COUNCIL (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HELD CLOSE TO SEVEN 
HOURS OF TALKS ON IRAQ SATURDAY AND PLANS TO CONTINUE MEETING ON 
THE ISSUE SUNDAY.  THE COUNCIL IS TRYING TO REACH A CONSENSUS ON 
WHETHER TO ACCEPT IRAQ'S PLEDGE TO RESUME COOPERATION WITH U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTORS.  V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX 
RUSTON REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE MEETING SATURDAY FOCUSSED ON A LETTER  FROM IRAQI 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ TO U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI 
ANNAN.  THAT LETTER PLEDGED UNCONDITIONAL COOPERATION WITH U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTORS -- THE ABSENCE OF WHICH TRIGGERED THE LATEST 
CRISIS WITH IRAQ.  BUT ATTACHED TO THAT LETTER WAS A LIST OF WHAT
IRAQI OFFICIALS DESCRIBED AS "PREFERENCES."  U-S AND BRITISH 
DIPLOMATS VIEWED THE LIST AS POTENTIAL CONDITIONS TO THE IRAQI 
PLEDGE AND INSISTED ON CLARIFICATION.

AS THE COUNCIL MET LATE SATURDAY, IRAQ'S U-N AMBASSADOR DELIVERED
SEVERAL LETTERS CLARIFYING HIS GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE -- EACH ONE 
STATING MORE CLEARLY THERE WOULD BE NO CONDITIONS TO THE PROMISE 
OF COOPERATION.

RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE WERE READY TO ACCEPT THAT PLEDGE.  THE 
UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN FELT IRAQ COULD DO MORE TO STRENGTHEN 
IT.

AT THE END OF THE TALKS, U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH SAID HE 
WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY COMMENT ON THE MEETING.

                   /// BURLEIGH ACTUALITY ///

         THE ONLY THING I AM GOING TO SAY ABOUT THE U-S POSITION 
         IS IT WAS VERY CLEARLY AND FORCEFULLY STATED BY THE 
         NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR, EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, MR. 
         BERGER.  WE WILL OBVIOUSLY BE REPORTING THE STATEMENTS 
         AND COMMENTS MADE BY OUR COLLEAGUES ON THE SECURITY 
         COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION AS WELL AS THE ELABORATIONS OR
         CLARIFICATION OF THE PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF IRAQ IN
         THE COURSE OF THE EVENING.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

IRAQI AMBASSADOR NIZAR HAMDOON DID HAVE COMMENTS TO MAKE.  HE 
GAVE HIS GOVERNMENT CREDIT FOR CHANGING ITS POLICY IN AN EFFORT 
TO AVOID CONFRONTATION.

                    /// HAMDOON ACTUALITY ///

         WHAT I GOT WAS THAT A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS DO
         APPRECIATE IRAQ'S COOPERATION AND APPRECIATE THE IRAQI 
         FLEXIBILITY IN TRYING TO FIND A WAY OUT OF THIS CRISIS 
         AND I HOPE THAT THE COUNCIL TOMORROW [SUNDAY] WILL COME 
         OUT WITH A FORTHCOMING STATEMENT THAT WILL HELP UP WITH 
         THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO REACH OUT TO A PEACEFUL 
         SOLUTION TO THE CURRENT SITUATION.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS NOW FACED WITH THE TASK OF DECIDING 
WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE IRAQI PLEDGE.  IF IT DOES ACCEPT IT, THE 
NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO REDEPLOY U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN IRAQ, 
WHERE THEY WOULD CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE THAT IRAQ 
STILL HAS THE CAPABILITY TO DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. 
DIPLOMATS SAY IT IS ONLY THROUGH LONG-TERM DEPLOYMENT THAT THE 
COUNCIL CAN TRULY TEST THE IRAQI PLEDGE OF COOPERATION.

IF THE COUNCIL REJECTS THE IRAQI PLEDGE, THAT COULD CLEAR AWAY 
THE LAST MAJOR OBJECTIONS TO U-S MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ.  
(SIGNED)

NEB / U-N / MPR / LSF / WD

15-Nov-98 2:05 AM EST (0705 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.