DATE=11/19/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241911
TITLE= U-N / IRAQ (L-ONLY)
BYLINE= ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE= WASHINGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE BACK IN IRAQ AFTER THE THREAT 
OF U-S MILITARY ACTION FORCED BAGDHAD TO BACK DOWN, AVERTING 
ANOTHER CRISIS. V-O-A'S ANDRE DE NESNERA SPOKE WITH CHIEF U-N 
INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER ABOUT THE CURRENT SITUATION -- AND HE 
FILED THIS REPORT FROM WASHINGTON.

TEXT:  RICHARD BUTLER SAYS THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS FOR 
INSPECTORS TO CHECK ALL THE MONITORING SYSTEMS THEY LEFT BEHIND 
WHEN THEY WERE ORDERED OUT OF IRAQ MORE THAN A WEEK AGO. 

                        // BUTLER ACT // 

         WHEN WE WERE OUT OF THE COUNTRY, ALL THAT REMAINED WAS 
         SOME REMOTE SENSING INSTRUMENTS. THEY HAVE TO GO UP TO 
         THE LARGE NUMBER OF SITES WE MONITOR AND SEE WHAT 
         HAPPENED WHILE THEY WERE AWAY AND MAKE SURE THE 
         EQUIPMENT IS WORKING AND COMMENCE THE BUSINESS OF HUMAN 
         VISITS : VISITS BY INSPECTORS TO THOSE SITES.

                         // END ACT // 

THE CHIEF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR BELIEVES THE ACTUAL INSPECTION OF
SITES SUSPECTED TO CONTAIN ILLICIT WEAPONS AND THEIR COMPONENTS  
COULD BEGIN IN A WEEK OR TWO.

MR. BUTLER SAYS THE "UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSION" -- KNOWN 
AS "UNSCOM" -- WANTS IRAQ TO ADDRESS A SERIES OF STILL UNRESOLVED
ISSUES. THESE INCLUDE AN ACCOUNTING OF MISSING WARHEADS AND WHAT 
THEY CONTAINED -- AS WELL AS THE EXTENT OF IRAQ'S CHEMICAL 
WEAPONS PROGRAM.

BUT MR. BUTLER SAYS THE BIGGEST UNRESOLVED ISSUE IS THE ONE 
DEALING WITH IRAQ'S SUSPECTED BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ARSENAL. HE SAYS
HE HAS JUST WRITTEN TO IRAQI DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ 
SEEKING A NEW UPDATED DECLARATION, REPLACING THE CURRENT ONE.

                     // 2ND BUTLER ACT //  

         BECAUSE THAT DECLARATION HAS BEEN REVIEWED FOUR TIMES 
         NOW BY INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS. AND 
         ON EACH OCCASION, THOSE EXPERTS HAVE SAID UNANIMOUSLY, 
         THAT IRAQ'S DECLARATION IS  NOT  CREDIBLE. AND IT IS THE
         MOST DIFFICULT AREA FOR US. WE NEED A LOT MORE TRUTH 
         WITH RESPECT TO THEIR BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.

                         // END ACT //  

THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT AVOIDED A U-S MILITARY STRIKE AFTER AGREEING
TO COOPERATE FULLY WITH U-N INSPECTORS -- IN OTHER WORDS, 
ALLOWING THEM UNHINDERED ACCESS ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO GO.   

THIS IS  NOT  THE FIRST TIME IRAQ HAS SAID IT WOULD COOPERATE 
WITH U-N INSPECTORS.   BUT MR. BUTLER HOPES THIS TIME, IT IS 
GENUINE.

                      // 3RD BUTLER ACT // 

         I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT IRAQ DOES NOW RECOGNIZE THE 
         SERIOUSNESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH IT FOUND 
         ITSELF AT THE END OF LAST WEEK AND OVER THE WEEKEND -- 
         AND THEREFORE DID  NOT  MAKE THIS PROMISE TO COOPERATE 
         LIGHTLY.

                         // END ACT // 

//OPT// THE SENIOR U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR SAYS IRAQ HAS A GREAT 
INCENTIVE TO COOPERATE WITH HIS MONITORS.

                      // 4TH BUTLER ACT // 

         OH -- IT HAS AN ENORMOUS INCENTIVE, IF IT WOULD ONLY SEE
         IT THAT WAY : NAMELY THE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS. BECAUSE 
         THE SANCTIONS ARE TIED TO DISARMAMENT. THE MOMENT THAT I
         CAN REPORT TO THE (U-N SECURITY) COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE A 
         FULL ACCOUNT OF THEIR PROHIBITED WEAPONS, THEN THE 
         SANCTIONS WOULD BE LIFTED, IF THE COUNCIL SO DECIDED. 
         AND THAT IS WHAT THE LAW SAYS -- SO I WOULD LIKE TO 
         THINK THAT THE INCENTIVE THEY HAVE IS THE WELFARE OF 
         THEIR PEOPLE.

                      // END ACT & OPT //  

SENIOR U-N WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER SAYS HE REALIZES HIS 
INSPECTORS ARE WORKING UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE. HE SAYS THE WORLD
WANTS THE IRAQI PROBLEM SOLVED WITHOUT HAVING TO CONFRONT A NEW 
CRISIS EVERY FEW MONTHS. MR. BUTLER SAYS IF IRAQ ABIDES BY ITS 
PROMISE TO COOPERATE FULLY, THEN THE WHOLE ISSUE OF BAGDHAD'S 
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION CAN BE DEALT WITH EFFECTIVELY AND 
QUICKLY. (SIGNED)

NEB/ADEN/WFR 

 

19-Nov-98 3:01 PM EST (2001 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.