DATE=1/15/99
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
NUMBER=5-42376
TITLE=ANALYSIS OF U-N - IRAQ DEADLOCK
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  DISAGREEMENTS OVER HOW TO DEAL WITH IRAQ HAVE LEFT THE 
UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL DEEPLY DIVIDED.  THE COUNCIL HAS 
BEEN HOLDING DISCUSSIONS OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS AIMED AT 
BUILDING A CONSENSUS ON KEY ISSUES CONCERNING IRAQ SUCH AS 
SANCTIONS, WEAPONS INSPECTIONS AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE.  
V-O-A CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON IS FOLLOWING THE STORY FROM OUR 
UNITED NATIONS BUREAU.

TEXT:  DIVISIONS OVER IRAQ ARE NOT NEW IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL.  
THEY HAVE BEEN THERE SINCE THE END OF THE 1991 GULF WAR, WHEN THE
UNITED NATIONS TOOK ON ITS ROLE OF OVERSEEING SANCTIONS, 
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND WEAPONS INSPECTIONS.  BUT OVER THE 
LAST FEW MONTHS, THOSE DIVISIONS HAVE GROWN AND ARE NOW 
POLARIZING THE SECURITY COUNCIL.

THE COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY DISCUSSING WRITTEN PROPOSALS FROM FRANCE
AND RUSSIA THAT CALL FOR THE EASING OR REMOVAL OF SANCTIONS, AND 
CHANGES IN THE WEAPONS INSPECTION SYSTEM THAT WOULD MAKE IT LESS 
OBJECTIONABLE TO IRAQ.  CHINA HAS GENERALLY SUPPORTED THESE 
SUGGESTIONS.  THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN HAVE BEEN THE 
STRONGEST OPPONENTS OF ANY WEAKENING OF SANCTIONS AND 
INSPECTIONS.

U-S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, PETER BURLEIGH SAYS:

                      /// BURLEIGH ACT ///

         WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IRAQ IS DISARMED.  THE U-S 
         GOVERNMENT DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT IT IS DOCUMENTED THAT 
         THE DISARMAMENT PROCESS FOR IRAQ HAS BEEN COMPLETED.  
         AND IT APPEARS THAT THE FRENCH PROPOSAL MAKES THAT 
         ASSUMPTION, EITHER THAT IRAQ IS DISARMED OR THAT THERE 
         IS NOTHING FURTHER TO BE KNOWN.

                         /// END ACT ///

THERE IS ALSO STRONG DISAGREEMENT OVER THE ROLE OF THE U-N 
WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, AND ITS LEADER, RICHARD 
BUTLER.  WASHINGTON SAYS IT SUPPORTS UNSCOM AND MR. BUTLER.  BUT 
SEVERAL OTHER NATIONS ON THE COUNCIL WANT UNSCOM CHANGED TO 
REDUCE ITS TIES TO WESTERN NATIONS AND ITS LEADER REMOVED.  
RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR, SERGEI LAVROV, HAS LED CALLS FOR THE 
ABOLITION OF UNSCOM, AMID REPORTS THAT UNSCOM HELPED THE UNITED 
STATES SPY ON IRAQ.

                       /// LAVROV ACT ///

         WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT UNSCOM MUST BE REFORMED AND 
         THAT THE REPORT BY UNSCOM, WHICH WAS THE TRIGGER FOR THE
         AIR STRIKES IN DECEMBER, WAS A PROVOCATION AND IT WAS A 
         REPORT WITH BAD INTENTIONS AND INACCURATE AND TELLING 
         HALF-TRUTHS AND SOMETIMES NOT THE TRUTH.

                         /// END ACT ///

WASHINGTON, IN AN APPARENT EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE COUNCIL'S TIES 
WITH IRAQ, HAS PROPOSED MEASURES THAT WOULD ALLOW IRAQ TO OBTAIN 
MORE MONEY FOR MEDICINE AND HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES.  IRAQ HAS 
REJECTED THAT PROPOSAL.

DIPLOMATS SAY THE FIVE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL 
-- RUSSIA, CHINA, THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN AND FRANCE -- ARE 
FAR FROM A CONSENSUS ON THESE KEY ISSUES.  BUT THEY SAY THERE IS 
A CLEAR EFFORT BY THOSE FIVE COUNTRIES TO SEARCH FOR AREAS OF 
AGREEMENT.  FAILURE TO REACH A CONSENSUS ON IRAQ, THEY SAY, WILL 
ERODE THE COUNCIL'S AUTHORITY.

IRAQ, MEANWHILE, SAYS IT WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY COMPROMISES.  IT IS 
DEMANDING THE COMPLETE AND IMMEDIATE LIFTING OF SANCTIONS AND AN 
END TO INSPECTIONS.  U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS TAKING A
WAIT-AND-SEE APPROACH.  HE SAYS THE FIRST STEP IS FOR THE 
SECURITY COUNCIL TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS ANY AREAS OF AGREEMENT.  
DIPLOMATS SAY THAT WILL BE A LONG AND DIFFICULT PROCESS.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/GE

15-Jan-99 3:11 PM EST (2011 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.