DATE=1/13/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244147
TITLE=RUSSIA/U-S/IRAQ (S UPDATE) 
BYLINE=EVE CONANT
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO:  THE U-S AND RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS HAVE DISCUSSED THE 
POSSIBILITY OF A RENEWED U-N MISSION TO IRAQ.  THE DISCUSSIONS 
FOLLOW REMARKS BY U-S OFFICIALS THAT THEY ARE WILLING TO CONSIDER
CHANGES IN THE CURRENTLY SUSPENDED U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION MISSION
IN IRAQ.  V-O-A'S EVE CONANT REPORTS FROM MOSCOW.

TEXT:  IN A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH SECRETARY OF STATE 
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV CALLED 
FOR A SPEEDY RETURN TO POLITICAL METHODS TO REGULATE THE IRAQI 
CONFLICT. 

ACCORDING TO A FOREIGN MINISTRY STATEMENT, MR. IVANOV SAID A U-N 
MISSION TO IRAQ WOULD NEED TO EVALUATE THE NEW SITUATION ON THE 
SPOT. 

RUSSIA'S GOVERNMENT OPENLY DENOUNCED THE U-S MISSILE ATTACKS IN 
DECEMBER.  BUT THERE WAS NO FOREIGN MINISTRY COMMENT (WEDNESDAY) 
ABOUT CONTINUED AIR CLASHES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ.

RUSSIA'S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID MS. ALBRIGHT AND MR. IVANOV ALSO 
DISCUSSED QUESTIONS OF DISARMAMENT AND WEAPONS CONTROL.

SECRETARY OF STATE ALBRIGHT WILL VISIT MOSCOW JANUARY 25TH ON MR.
IVANOV'S INVITATION TO DISCUSS BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL ISSUES.
 (SIGNED)

NEB/EC/RAE/KL

13-Jan-99 3:32 PM EST (2032 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.