DATE=12/10/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242794
TITLE=U-N INSPECTORS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LARRY FREUND
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: UNITED NATIONS ARMS INSPECTORS IN IRAQ CONTINUED THEIR 
WORK TODAY (THURSDAY) WITHOUT BEING BLOCKED, BUT U-N OFFICIALS 
SAY THE INSPECTORS WERE DELAYED FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES BEFORE THEY 
WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER ONE SITE. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LARRY FREUND 
REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: ONE DAY AFTER IRAQ REFUSED TO ALLOW U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS 
TO ENTER THE BAGHDAD OFFICES OF IRAQ'S RULING BA'ATH PARTY, THE 
UNSCOM INSPECTORS WERE STOPPED AT ANOTHER SITE FOR ABOUT 45 
MINUTES BEFORE THEY WERE ALLOWED TO ENTER. UNITED NATIONS 
SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD SAYS THE IRAQI OFFICIALS AT THE SITE 
DESCRIBED THE SITE AS SENSITIVE.

                    /// ECKHARD ACTUALITY ///

         THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE OF VIEWS OVER THE PROCEDURE TO 
         INSPECT THE SENSITIVE SITE. HOWEVER, THIS WAS RESOLVED 
         EVENTUALLY, WITH THE IRAQI SIDE ACCEPTING THE UNSCOM 
         VIEW AND THE TEAM WAS ALLOWED TO INSPECT THE SITE.

                      /// END ACTUALITY ///

AN OFFICIAL OF IRAQ'S BA'ATH PARTY TOLD REPORTERS THE U-N 
INSPECTORS WOULD BE TURNED BACK AGAIN IF THEY TRIED TO ENTER THE 
PARTY'S OFFICES.  HE SAID THERE ARE NO MATERIALS IN THE BUILDING 
RELATED TO THE WEAPONS INSPECTION PROCESS. U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY
HAVE A RIGHT, UNDER U-N RESOLUTIONS, TO SEARCH ANY SITE THEY WISH
IN THEIR HUNT FOR EVIDENCE ABOUT IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS.

IN A WEEKLY REPORT, THE U-N INSPECTORS SAY THERE IS EVIDENCE THE 
BA'ATH PARTY OFFICES CONTAINED MATERIALS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO THE 
COMMISSION'S DISARMAMENT MANDATE. IN THAT SAME REPORT, THE 
INSPECTION COMMISSION SAYS IRAQ INTERFERED WITH A BIOLOGICAL 
WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM AND A CHEMICAL WEAPONS INSPECTION TEAM. 
BOTH INCIDENTS, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, OCCURRED LAST FRIDAY.

THE UNITED STATES HAS WARNED THAT A UNITED NATIONS REVIEW OF U-N 
SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ WILL NOT TAKE PLACE UNLESS IRAQ GIVES ITS 
FULL COOPERATION TO THE INSPECTORS. THE INSPECTION COMMISSION IS 
EXPECTED TO GIVE A FULL REPORT ON ITS WORK TO U-N 
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN NEXT WEEK.

                        /// REST OPT /// 

MEANWHILE, U-N SPOKESMAN FRED ECKHARD CONFIRMED A PUBLISHED 
REPORT THAT SECRETARY-GENERAL ANNAN SAID THE CHIEF WEAPONS 
INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER HAS SOMETIMES SPOKEN UNDIPLOMATICALLY, 
BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE UNDER WHICH HE WORKS.  MR. ECKHARD SAID 
THE GENERAL THRUST OF THE STORY IS CORRECT, BUT HE ADDED THAT MR.
ANNAN AND MR. BUTLER WORK VERY CLOSELY TOGETHER AND HAD DISCUSSED
THE 45 MINUTE DELAY IN ALLOWING INSPECTORS TO ENTER A SITE. 
(SIGNED)

NEB/NY/LSF/GE

10-Dec-98 2:46 PM EST (1946 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.