DATE=11/17/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-241826 TITLE=IRAQ / KUWAITI PRISONERS (L-ONLY) BYLINE=MAX RUSTON DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: KUWAIT IS URGING THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TO PRESS BAGHDAD TO ACCOUNT FOR MISSING KUWAITI NATIONALS CAPTURED BY IRAQ DURING ITS OCCUPATION OF KUWAIT. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS. TEXT: THE APPEAL WAS BROUGHT TO MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL (TUESDAY) BY THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE KUWAIT NATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR MISSING PERSONS, IBRAHIM AL-SHAHINE [PRON: AH-SHAH-'HEEN]. MR. AL-SHAHINE SAYS MORE THAN 600 KUWAITIS CAPTURED BY IRAQ HAVE NOT BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR. HE SAYS HE WANTS THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL TO INCREASE PRESSURE ON IRAQI AUTHORITIES TO ACCOUNT FOR ALL THOSE MISSING. U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH SAYS THE ISSUE IS BEING GIVEN A HIGH PRIORITY BY THE SECURITY COUNCIL, AND WILL BE ONE OF MANY ISSUES COVERED IN A PLANNED REVIEW OF RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING IRAQ. THAT REVIEW IS EXPECTED TO BE DOMINATED BY DISARMAMENT ISSUES. MR. BURLEIGH SAYS U-N RESOLUTIONS STATE CLEARLY THAT SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ AFTER THE GULF WAR CAN NOT BE LIFTED UNTIL ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE MET. HE SAYS THERE MUST BE VERIFICATION THAT IRAQ NO LONGER HAS THE CAPABILITY TO PRODUCE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, AND AN ACCOUNTING OF MISSING KUWAITI NATIONALS. MR. AL-SHAHINE SAYS HIS COMMITTEE HAS WORKED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS IN MEETINGS WITH IRAQI AUTHORITIES ON THE ISSUE OF MISSING PERSONS. HE SAYS HE HAS PRESENTED IRAQ WITH DETAILED DOCUMENTS, SOME SIGNED BY IRAQI MILITARY OFFICERS, SHOWING WHO WAS CAPTURED. HE SAYS MANY OF THOSE CAPTURED WERE TAKEN INTO IRAQ AND PUT IN PRISONS. HE SAYS IT IS CRITICAL THAT PROGRESS BE MADE IN DETERMINING THEIR WHEREABOUTS SOON, AS IT IS UNCLEAR HOW THEY ARE BEING TREATED, OR IF THEY ARE RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT. MR. AL-SHAHINE SAYS IRAQ HAS REMAINED SILENT, DESPITE HIS APPEALS FOR INFORMATION. (SIGNED) NEB/UN/MPR/WTW 17-Nov-98 8:15 PM EST (0115 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .