DATE=11/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241986
TITLE=IRAQ / DOCUMENTS STANDOFF (S&L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  IN BAGHDAD, U-N INSPECTORS ARE CONTINUING THEIR SEARCH 
FOR SUSPECTED ILLEGAL WEAPON SITES.  BUT AS RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS
FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO, A NEW CONFRONTATION IS 
TAKING PLACE BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS.
 
TEXT:  ABOUT FOUR VEHICLES LEFT U-N HEADQUARTERS IN BAGHDAD 
SATURDAY, THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE DAY OF INSPECTIONS SINCE U-N 
PERSONNEL RETURNED TO IRAQ.  THEY HAD BEEN EVACUATED TO PROTECT 
THEM FROM POSSIBLE U-S LED MILITARY STRIKES.
 
HOWEVER, A NEW DISPUTE BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS HAS 
EMERGED OVER DOCUMENTS REQUESTED BY THE U-N'S CHIEF WEAPONS 
INSPECTOR, RICHARD BUTLER, IN THREE LETTERS SENT TO THE IRAQI 
LEADERSHIP. 
 
IRAQ'S DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER, RIYADH AL-QAISI, DESCRIBED MR. 
BUTLER'S LETTERS AS, IN HIS WORDS, "MORE PROVOCATIVE THAN 
PROFESSIONAL."
 
AMONG OTHER DOCUMENTS, MR. BUTLER IS ASKING TO EXAMINE A LOG KEPT
BY THE IRAQI AIR FORCE THAT OUTLINES WEAPONS DESTROYED DURING THE
EIGHT-YEAR IRAN-IRAQ WAR.  MR. BUTLER SAYS THAT HIS TEAM LEARNED 
ABOUT THE DOCUMENT DURING A SEARCH LAST JULY.
 
///REST OPT FOR LONG///

MR. AL-QAISI REPEATED IRAQ'S EARLIER POSITION THAT THE COUNTRY 
WOULD PROVIDE RELEVANT PORTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT TO THE U-N TEAM 
PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE EXAMINED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE U-N 
SECRETARY GENERAL'S SPECIAL ENVOY TO IRAQ.
 
NEWSPAPERS IN BAGHDAD SATURDAY DID NOT REPORT ABOUT THE NEW ROW, 
BUT FOCUSED ON RECENT STATEMENTS MADE BY THE U-S ADMINISTRATION 
THAT IT WILL CONTINUE SUPPORTING IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUPS.
 
THE DAILY "AL JUMHORIYA" NEWSPAPER SAID U-S AND BRITISH OFFICIALS
HAVE UNVEILED WHAT IT CALLS A "POLICY OF CONSPIRACY AND REVENGE 
AGAINST IRAQ."
 
THE "BABEL" NEWSPAPER SAYS IT IS OBVIOUS THE AMERICAN 
ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO CONTAIN AND CRIPPLE IRAQ.
 
INTERNATIONAL WEAPONS INSPECTORS MUST CERTIFY THAT IRAQ IS RID OF
ITS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BEFORE SANCTIONS IMPOSED SINCE 
GULF WAR CAN BE LIFTED. (SIGNED) 

NEB/RHE/DW/GE

21-Nov-98 8:43 AM EST (1343 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.