DATE=12/23/98
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42228
TITLE=YEARENDER:  U-N / IRAQ
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AT THE UNITED NATIONS, NO SINGLE ISSUE WAS MORE PROMINENT
IN 1998 THAN THE EFFORT TO PREVENT IRAQ FROM ACQUIRING WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION.  THE WORLD BODY IS NOW ENTERING ANOTHER YEAR OF
UNCERTAINTY CONCERNING IRAQ, AND STILL TRYING TO DEVELOP AN 
EFFECTIVE POLICY TOWARDS THAT COUNTRY.  IN THIS REPORT FROM OUR 
U-N BUREAU, V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REVIEWS THE 
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED NATIONS AND IRAQ AND THE EVENTS 
THAT LED UP TO THE LATEST MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST BAGHDAD.

TEXT:  1998 YEAR BEGAN ON A NEGATIVE NOTE, AS IRAQ PREVENTED U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTORS FROM ENTERING SOME SUSPECTED WEAPONS SITES AND
THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES THREATENED MILITARY ACTION.  U-N
SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN TRAVELED TO BAGHDAD IN LATE FEBRUARY
AND PERSONALLY CONVINCED IRAQI LEADER SADDAM HUSSEIN TO PROVIDE 
NEW PROMISES OF FULL COOPERATION.  TENSION QUICKLY DISSIPATED AND
MR. ANNAN WAS PRAISED WORLDWIDE FOR HIS PEACEMAKING ABILITIES.

BUT LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AFTER MR. ANNAN'S VISIT, IT BECAME CLEAR
THAT IRAQ WAS NOT WILLING TO PROVIDE THE UNCONDITIONAL ACCESS IT 
PROMISED.  TENSION BEGAN TO RISE AGAIN AMID A GROWING NUMBER OF 
CASES OF IRAQI OBSTRUCTION.  IT REACHED A PEAK ON OCTOBER 31ST, 
WHEN IRAQ SUSPENDED ALL COOPERATION WITH THE U-N WEAPONS 
INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM.

THE UNITED STATES ONCE AGAIN PREPARED FOR MILITARY STRIKES 
AGAINST IRAQ BUT PUT THOSE PLANS ON HOLD ON NOVEMBER 14 WHEN MR. 
ANNAN INTERVENED AGAIN AND IRAQ PROMISED ONCE MORE TO COOPERATE. 
MR. ANNAN:

                        /// ANNAN ACT ///

         I CANNOT GIVE YOU ANY GUARANTEE THAT THIS AGREEMENT 
         WOULD WORK.  WE HAD THAT EXPERIENCE ON FRIDAY AND PEOPLE
         HAVE ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE IS A NEXT TIME.  I 
         SINCERELY HOPE THERE WILL NOT BE A NEXT TIME, BECAUSE AS
         YOU KNOW I HAVE BEEN IN LOTS OF MEETINGS, LOTS OF 
         DISCUSSIONS, BOTH HERE IN THE COUNCIL AND AROUND THE 
         CAPITALS, AND I AM NOT SURE IF THERE IS A NEXT TIME WE 
         WOULD EVEN HAVE TIME FOR FURTHER DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVES 
         AND APPEALS.

                         /// END ACT ///

THAT AGREEMENT BEGAN TO FALL APART WITHIN DAYS AND ON DECEMBER 
17TH THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN BEGAN A FOUR-DAY SERIES OF 
MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST KEY TARGETS IN IRAQ.

IRAQ'S DEFIANCE AND THE DECISION BY LONDON AND WASHINGTON TO 
LAUNCH STRIKES WITHOUT SPECIFIC SECURITY COUNCIL APPROVAL LEFT 
U-N POLICY TOWARDS IRAQ -- NOT TO MENTION MR. ANNAN'S CREDIBILITY
AS A MEDIATOR -- BADLY DAMAGED AND THE SECURITY COUNCIL DIVIDED.

KENYA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS, NJUGUNA MAHUGU, SAYS 
THE WEEKS AND  MONTHS AHEAD SHOULD FOCUS ON HEALING SOME OF THOSE
DIVISIONS.

                       /// MAHUGU ACT ///

         I THINK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A 
         PERIOD OF SOUL SEARCHING AND HEALING  DIPLOMACY, AND I 
         THINK THAT IS WHAT WE  HAVE TO DO TO LOOK FORWARD ... 
         WHERE DO WE MOVE FROM HERE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL ARE NOW 
DIVIDED, WITH THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN ON ONE SIDE, AND 
RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA ON THE OTHER.  RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA 
ARE ADVOCATING A RESTRUCTURING OF UNSCOM IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE IT 
MORE ACCEPTABLE TO IRAQ.  COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREE IT IS ESSENTIAL 
TO MAINTAIN A MONITORING CAPABILITY IN IRAQ BUT THEY DISAGREE 
OVER HOW TO ACHIEVE THAT.

THERE IS PARTICULAR DISAGREEMENT OVER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF UNSCOM
CHIEF RICHARD BUTLER.  SEVERAL COUNTRIES HAVE CALLED FOR HIS 
REMOVAL FROM UNSCOM, SAYING THAT WOULD HELP IMPROVE THE 
COMMISSION'S WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAQ.  MR. BUTLER'S FATE 
IS EXPECTED TO BE DETERMINED WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF 1999.

DIPLOMATS SAY THAT DURING THE WEEKS AHEAD THEY WILL FOCUS ON THAT
ISSUE AND ON TRYING TO IMPROVE HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO IRAQ, 
SO THAT ORDINARY IRAQIS DO NOT SUFFER FROM SANCTIONS DIRECTED AT 
THE COUNTRY'S LEADERS AND MILITARY.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT

23-Dec-98 4:34 PM EST (2134 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.