DATE=11/18/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-41898
TITLE= U-N / IRAQ
BYLINE= ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE BACK TO WORK IN IRAQ AFTER 
ANOTHER CRISIS WAS AVERTED -- BUT ONLY AFTER A LAST MINUTE 
BACKDOWN FROM BAGDHAD IN THE FACE OF U-S MILITARY ACTION.     
V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA SPOKE WITH TWO FORMER U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTORS ABOUT THE CRISIS -- AND HE FILED THIS REPORT FROM 
WASHINGTON.

TEXT:  JUST A FEW DAYS GO, IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN AVERTED AN
AMERICAN ATTACK AFTER PROMISING TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH UNITED 
NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS KNOWN AS '"UNSCOM."

THIS IS  NOT  THE FIRST TIME THE IRAQI PRESIDENT SAID HE WOULD 
COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE U-N -- AND IT IS  NOT  THE FIRST CRISIS 
PITTING THE UNITED NATIONS AGAINST BAGDHAD. LAST FEBRUARY, U-N 
SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNAN DEFUSED TENSIONS AFTER TRAVELING TO 
BAGDHAD. 

FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR TIM TREVAN SAYS THAT WHILE U-S 
MILITARY STRIKES HAVE BEEN PREVENTED ONCE AGAIN, THE FUNDAMENTAL 
REASONS FOR THE CONTINUING CRISES ARE STILL THERE.

                        // TREVAN ACT // 

         THE UNITED NATIONS - OBVIOUSLY SUPPORTED MAINLY BY THE 
         U-S - IS STILL DEMANDING THAT IRAQ GET RID OF ALL ITS 
         WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. AND ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU 
         HAVE IRAQ STILL  NOT  COOPERATING WITH THE U-N. THEY MAY
         WELL BE SAYING: "RIGHT. YOU CAN HAVE UNFETTERED ACCESS" 
         - BUT THEY ARE STILL  NOT  OFFERING THE INFORMATION,  
         NOT OFFERING UP THE MATERIAL AND THE EQUIPMENT THAT 
         NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED TO THE U-N. SO I SHOULD EXPECT 
         THAT THIS CRISIS WILL RE-EMERGE IN SOME FORM OR OTHER AS
         SOON AS THE MILITARY THREAT IN THE (UNITED) STATES 
         DIMINISHES. 

                         // END ACT //  

MR. TREVAN SAYS WHAT THE CURRENT CRISIS HAS DONE IS TO GET U-N 
INSPECTORS BACK INTO IRAQ WITH GREATER SUPPORT FROM THE SECURITY 
COUNCIL.

                     // 2ND TREVAN ACT //  

         THERE CLEARLY IS THE WILL WITHIN THE SECURITY COUNCIL - 
         AND PARTICULARLY WITH THE UNITED STATES AND THE UNITED 
         KINGDOM - TO FORCE IRAQ TO COMPLY THROUGH MILITARY MEANS
         IF NECESSARY. SO NOW 'UNSCOM' IS IN A POSITION TO GO 
         AHEAD AND DO REALLY INTRUSIVE INSPECTIONS, KNOWING THAT 
         IT DOES HAVE THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY SUPPORT OF THE 
         COUNCIL BEHIND IT. // OPT // YOU WILL RECALL THAT BACK 
         IN FEBRUARY, THERE REALLY WAS  NOT  THE STOMACH (WILL) 
         FOR MILITARY ACTION AMONG OTHER MEMBERS OF THE 
         (SECURITY) COUNCIL. SO I THINK PERHAPS BY LETTING THIS 
         PARTICULAR CRISIS FESTER FOR LONG ENOUGH, THE U-S 
         ALLOWED THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL TO GET SO FED 
         UP WITH IRAQ THAT THEY ALL ACQUIESCED TO THE PROPOSAL 
         FOR MILITARY ACTION. // END OPT // 

                         // END ACT // 

ANOTHER FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR - COLONEL TERRY TAYLOR -  
SAYS THE  PRESENCE OF INSPECTORS IN IRAQ IS ESSENTIAL. HE 
DESCRIBES THE RESOLUTION OF THE CURRENT CRISIS AS "THE LEAST 
WORST OUTCOME."

                       // TAYLOR ACT //  

         THERE IS  NO  GOOD OUTCOME IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. BUT I
         THINK IT IS BETTER TO HAVE INSPECTORS ON THE GROUND IN 
         IRAQ RATHER THAN  NOT  HAVE ANYBODY ON THE GROUND AND 
         PERHAPS (IN) SOME WAY HAVE IRAQ FENCED IN AND ALLOWED TO
         GET ON WITH WHATEVER IT WANTS TO DO WITH ITS WEAPONS OF 
         MASS DESTRUCTION PROGRAMS, REGENERATE THEM AND SO ON -- 
         AND HOPE BY STANDING AROUND THE OUTSIDE, TO SOMEHOW 
         CONTAIN THE IRAQI LEADERSHIP. 

                        // END ACT //   

COLONEL TAYLOR SAYS U-N INSPECTORS STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO 
DO, ESPECIALLY DEALING WITH BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS. BUT THE FORMER 
WEAPONS INSPECTOR SAYS THERE ARE OTHER AREAS "UNSCOM" MUST 
INSPECT.

                      // 2ND TAYLOR ACT // 

         THERE IS MORE TO BE FOUND OUT ABOUT THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS
         PROGRAM, IN PARTICULAR RELATING TO THE FOUR THOUSAND 
         TONS OF PRE-CURSOR CHEMICALS - THAT'S CHEMICALS NEEDED 
         FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF "V-X" NERVE AGENT, WHICH HAVE  
         NOT  BEEN PROPERLY ACCOUNTED FOR. AND WE KNOW, OF 
         COURSE, THAT THEY DID WEAPONIZE (I.E. TURNED THE NERVE 
         AGENT INTO WEAPONS) THAT PARTICULAR LETHAL NERVE AGENT. 
         THERE IS A LITTLE BIT MORE TO BE FOUND ABOUT THE NUCLEAR
         PROGRAM'S SUPPLY NETWORK, AND CERTAINLY MORE TO 
         UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE MISSILE PROGRAM. IN PARTICULAR,  
         NOT  ALL THE MISSILES - "SCUD" MISSILES - HAVE BEEN 
         ACCOUNTED FOR. 

                        // END ACT //   

COLONEL TERRY TAYLOR SAYS THE ONGOING STRUGGLE BETWEEN IRAQ AND 
THE UNITED NATIONS IS A TEST OF WILLS -- AND IT IS A REAL 
CHALLENGE FOR THE LEADERS OF DEMOCRATIC STATES. HE SAYS 
"UNSCOM'S" WORK COULD BE DONE RELATIVELY QUICKLY IF IRAQ 
GENUINELY DECIDES TO COOPERATE FULLY. OTHERWISE, HE FEELS THERE 
WILL BE MORE CRISES AHEAD WITH MORE THREATS OF MILITARY ACTION. 
(SIGNED)

(EDS: IN THE NEXT REPORT, THE FORMER U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TALK 
ABOUT THEIR WORK AND CONSIDER WHETHER "UNSCOM'S" WORK IS 
SUCCESSFUL. 

NEB/ADEN/GE

18-Nov-98 12:48 PM EST (1748 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.