DATE=12/17/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243195
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ THURSDAY (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  OFFICIALS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ARE REASSESSING THE 
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION CONCERNING IRAQ AND CONSIDERING HOW TO 
ARRANGE FOR THE RETURN OF U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS TO THAT COUNTRY.
V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM OUR UNITED NATIONS BUREAU.

TEXT:  U-N OFFICIALS SAY THEY WANT TO ENSURE THAT U-N 
HUMANITARIAN STAFF IN IRAQ GET BACK TO WORK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
ABOUT 130 UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL STAFF -- MOST OF THEM 
HUMANITARIAN WORKERS -- REMAIN IN BAGHDAD.  THEY HAVE BEEN 
GROUPED TOGETHER AT A CONVERTED HOTEL IN A BAGHDAD SUBURB.  U-N 
OFFICIALS BELIEVE IT MAY NOT BE SAFE TO ATTEMPT THE LONG DRIVE 
OUT OF THE COUNTRY AT THIS TIME.

U-N SPOKESMAN MANOEL DE ALMEIDA:

                     /// DE ALMEIDA ACT ///

         WHEN THE BOMBING STARTED LAST NIGHT, STAFF MOVED INTO 
         THE CORRIDOR ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING WHERE 
         IT WAS JUDGED THEY WOULD BE SAFEST.  FOR THE FIRST FEW 
         HOURS THE EXPLOSIONS WERE IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN, BUT AT
         ABOUT THREE O'CLOCK THERE WERE THREE VERY LOUD 
         EXPLOSIONS APPARENTLY CLOSE TO THE U-N BUILDING.

                         /// END ACT ///

THERE HAVE BEEN NO INJURIES OR CASUALTIES REPORTED AMONG U-N 
STAFF IN BAGHDAD SINCE THE START OF U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES 
AGAINST IRAQ.

IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW LONG THE STRIKES WILL DISRUPT HUMANITARIAN 
ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ.  U-N OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE STOCKS OF FOOD, 
MEDICINE AND OTHER HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES IN IRAQ.  IN MOST OF 
CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN IRAQ DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH SUPPLIES HAS, IN 
THE PAST, BEEN CARRIED OUT BY THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT WITH U-N STAFF
ACTING AS OBSERVERS.  OBSERVATIONS WERE SUSPENDED WITH THE START 
OF MILITARY STRIKES.

OIL EXPORTS ARE REPORTED TO BE CONTINUING NORMALLY FROM A PORT IN
THE SOUTH OF IRAQ.  U-N RESOLUTIONS ALLOW IRAQ TO EXPORT LIMITED 
QUANTITIES OF OIL IN RETURN FOR HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES.

THE UNITED NATIONS ALSO HOPES TO ENSURE AN EARLY RETURN TO IRAQ 
BY MEMBERS OF THE WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM.  THEY 
SAY THAT CONTINUES TO OFFER THE BEST LONG-TERM PROSPECTS FOR 
ENSURING THAT IRAQ DOES NOT DEVELOP WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION. 
U-S OFFICIALS SAY THEY HOPE TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO THAT ISSUE
AS SOON AS THEY HAVE CONCLUDED THEIR MILITARY STRIKES.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WFR

17-Dec-98 3:51 PM EST (2051 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.