DATE=11/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242009
TITLE=IRAQ/DOCUMENTS CRISIS (L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: IRAQ AND UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTORS ARE ONCE AGAIN 
IN CONFLICT.  RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU 
IN CAIRO THAT THE CURRENT DISPUTE IS ABOUT ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS 
THAT INSPECTORS SAY WILL HELP THEM UNCOVER  INFORMATION ABOUT 
IRAQ'S DEVELOPMENT OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
 
TEXT: WEAPONS INSPECTORS CONTINUED THEIR WORK IN IRAQ SUNDAY 
DESPITE THE NEW CONFLICT BETWEEN IRAQ AND THE U-N TEAM.  THIS 
TIME, IRAQ OBJECTS TO REQUESTS MADE BY U-N CHIEF WEAPONS 
INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER FOR DOCUMENTS RELATING TO IRAQI WEAPONS 
OF MASS DESTRUCTION.
 
IN HIS FIRST COMMENTS ON THE STANDOFF, IRAQ'S DEPUTY PRIME 
MINISTER TARIQ AZIZ TOLD REPORTERS SUNDAY THAT MR. BUTLER IS 
SEEKING TO REVIVE OLD PROBLEMS, WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN SETTLED.
 
AMONG OTHER DOCUMENTS, MR. BUTLER WANTS 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 
OF THE DOCUMENT DURING A SEARCH LAST JULY.
 
HOWEVER, MR. AZIZ SAID MR. BUTLER IS ASKING FOR MANY DOCUMENTS, 
SOME OF WHICH HE SAYS DO NOT EXIST. 

                     ///INSERT AZIZ ACT/// 

         HE HAS ASKED FOR ALLEGED DOCUMENTS THAT DO NOT EXIST.  
         HE HAS ASKED FOR OLD STORIES WHICH WERE SETTLED IN THE 
         PAST.  HE ALSO ASKED FOR ALL THE ARCHIVES OF THE 
         GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ.

                          ///END ACT///

THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DESCRIBED MR. BUTLER'S REQUEST AS 
EITHER A SUPERFICIAL PRETEXT TO JUSTIFY AMERICAN AGGRESSION OR AN
ATTEMPT TO CONFUSE AND UNDERMINE THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.
 
/// OPT ///  THE NEW ARGUMENT COMES LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER U-N 
INSPECTORS RETURNED TO IRAQ AFTER THEY WERE EVACUATED TO PROTECT 
THEM FROM A POSSIBLE U-S-LED MILITARY STRIKE.  THE TEAM'S WORK 
HAS LARGELY INVOLVED MONITORING PREVIOUSLY INSPECTED SITES.  ON 
SATURDAY INSPECTORS CARRIED OUT A SURPRISE CHECK AT ONE SITE.
 
IN BAGHDAD, NEWSPAPERS CONTINUE TO POUR SCORN ON THE UNITED 
STATES -- THE COUNTRY IRAQ BELIEVES IS MANIPULATING THE UNITED 
NATIONS TO KEEP SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ.  /// END OPT ///
 
INTERNATIONAL WEAPONS INSPECTORS MUST CERTIFY THAT IRAQ IS RID OF
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION BEFORE SANCTIONS IMPOSED SINCE GULF 
WAR CAN BE LIFTED. (SIGNED) 

NEB/RHE/DW/GE

22-Nov-98 8:40 AM EST (1340 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.