DATE=11/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241802
TITLE=IRAQ / U-N RETURNS (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=KUWAIT CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  EIGHTY-SIX U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS HAVE RETURNED TO IRAQ 
FROM BAHRAIN AND 120 U-N RELIEF WORKERS RETURNED FROM JORDAN -- A
FEW DAYS AFTER THE LATEST CONFRONTATION BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE 
UNITED NATIONS WAS DEFUSED.  V-O-A MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT 
SCOTT BOBB REPORTS GOVERNMENTS IN THE REGION ARE  NOT  OPTIMISTIC
THAT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WILL NOW FULLY COMPLY WITH U-N DEMANDS.

TEXT:  U-N SPOKESWOMAN CAROLINE CROSS TOLD REPORTERS THE 
INSPECTORS WOULD RESUME THEIR WORK BY WEDNESDAY.  SHE SAID THE 
IRAQI AUTHORITIES HAVE PROMISED COOPERATION, BUT ADDED THAT THE 
NEXT FEW DAYS WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY THE INSPECTORS WILL BE ABLE TO RESUME ROUTINE 
MONITORING ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, BUT THAT INSPECTIONS OF NEW SITES 
WILL TAKE MORE TIME.  IRAQ SUSPENDED NEW INSPECTIONS LAST AUGUST 
AND ROUTINE INSPECTIONS THREE WEEKS AGO, SAYING THEY WOULD  NOT  
BE RESUMED UNTIL CRIPPLING ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ ARE 
ENDED.

THE U-S AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS ANNOUNCED AIR STRIKES AND SENT 
MILITARY REINFORCEMENTS TO THE REGION.  ON SATURDAY, REPORTEDLY 
MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRST STRIKES WERE TO BE LAUNCHED, IRAQ 
ANNOUNCED IT WAS RESUMING COOPERATION WITHOUT CONDITIONS.

///  OPT  ///   THE U-N SPECIAL ENVOY TO IRAQ, PRAKASH SHAH, SAID
MONDAY THAT IRAQ WOULD BE WATCHED CLOSELY.  HE SAID MANY MEMBERS 
OF THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL WANT IRAQ'S RESOLVE TO BE TESTED AND 
PROVEN ON THE GROUND.  HE SAID THAT IF IRAQ COOPERATES FULLY, THE
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE DISARMAMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IRAQ HAS 
BEEN DEMANDING, COULD GET UNDERWAY.

///  OPT  ///   THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW WAS PART OF A COMPROMISE
BROKERED BY U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN LAST FEBRUARY.  IT 
DEFUSED A PREVIOUS CRISIS HOURS BEFORE AIR STRIKES WERE TO BEGIN.
///  END OPT  ///

THE LATEST CRISIS, HOWEVER, HAS BROUGHT WARNINGS FROM U-S AND 
BRITISH LEADERS THAT THIS REPRIEVE IS IRAQ'S LAST CHANCE AND THAT
ANY NEW CONFRONTATION WILL BRING AN IMMEDIATE MILITARY RESPONSE.

IN NEIGHBORING KUWAIT, WHOSE OCCUPATION BY IRAQ EIGHT YEARS AGO 
LED TO THE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS, MANY PEOPLE EXPRESS  FRUSTRATION 
OVER THE LATEST COMPROMISE.  THEY SAY EVERY SIX MONTHS IRAQ 
BECOMES DEFIANT, THE U-S GOVERNMENT SENDS TROOPS TO THE REGION, 
AND THEIR GOVERNMENT PAYS THE BILL.

///  OPT  ///   SOME OBSERVERS IN THE REGION HAVE SAID THE 
REPEATED CONFRONTATIONS MAY PROVIDE A PRETEXT FOR WESTERN 
GOVERNMENTS TO MAINTAIN TROOPS IN THE REGION.   ///  END OPT  ///

OTHERS DO  NOT  BELIEVE THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WILL EVER FULLY 
COOPERATE WITH A DISARMAMENT PROGRAM WHICH ULTIMATELY IS AIMED AT
ELIMINATING IRAQ AS A MILITARY POWER IN THE REGION.  AS A RESULT,
MANY SAY THEY BELIEVE A NEW CRISIS IS INEVITABLE AND THE ONLY 
QUESTION IS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO EVOLVE.  (SIGNED)

NEB/SB/JWH

17-Nov-98 9:57 AM EST (1457 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.