DATE=2/10/99
TYPE=NEWS ANALYSIS
NUMBER=5-42573
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ PANELS
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL IS TAKING A NEW APPROACH THIS 
WEEK IN ITS EFFORTS TO GET A COMPLETE PICTURE OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS 
PROGRAMS.  THE COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO CREATE THREE SPECIAL PANELS
TO HELP DECIDE THE UNITED NATIONS' NEXT COURSE OF ACTION ON IRAQ.
DIPLOMATS SAY THIS COULD HELP OVERCOME STRONG DISAGREEMENTS AMONG
THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.  OUR U-N CORRESPONDENT, MAX RUSTON, HAS A 
REPORT.

TEXT:  EACH PANEL WILL FOCUS ON COLLECTING INFORMATION AND 
PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS ON A SPECIFIC ASPECT OF THE UNITED 
NATIONS' RELATIONSHIP WITH IRAQ.  ONE PANEL WILL DEAL WITH 
PRISONERS OF WAR FROM THE GULF CONFLICT.  ANOTHER WILL WORK ON 
HUMANITARIAN ISSUES.  THE THIRD WILL WORK ON THE MOST DIFFICULT 
AND DIVISIVE ISSUE BEFORE THE COUNCIL -- THE DISARMAMENT AND 
MONITORING OF IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS.  THAT HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT
BY THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION, "UNSCOM," AND THE INTERNATIONAL 
ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, THE I-A-E-A.

CANADA'S DEPUTY REPRESENTATIVE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, MICHEL 
DUVAL, WHO SERVED AS ACTING SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT IN EARLY 
FEBRUARY, SAYS THE PANELS SHOULD LAY THE GROUNDWORK TO HELP THE 
COUNCIL DEAL WITH THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES.

                        /// DUVAL ACT ///

         WE WANT TO AVOID RAISING THE ISSUES WHICH HAVE TORN THE 
         COUNCIL APART, WHILE WE PUT TOGETHER THESE PANELS, 
         HOPING THAT WE CAN GET A GOOD ASSESSMENT OF UNSCOM'S 
         WORK -- TECHNICAL WORK -- OF THE I-A-E-A'S TECHNICAL 
         WORK, AND OF OTHER SOURCES, SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH 
         SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR THE 
         POLITICAL DECISIONS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE IN THE NEAR 
         FUTURE.

                         /// END ACT ///

THE PANELS WILL HAVE UNTIL APRIL 15TH TO COMPILE THEIR FINDINGS 
AND RECOMMENDATIONS.  AFTER THAT, THE COUNCIL WILL TRY AGAIN TO 
DETERMINE HOW TO MONITOR IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS AND WHAT TO DO 
ABOUT SANCTIONS.  THE COUNCIL TRIED TO DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES IN 
DECEMBER, AFTER THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN LAUNCHED MILITARY 
STRIKES IN IRAQ, BUT DIVISIONS WERE DEEP AND  NO  AGREEMENTS WERE
REACHED.

THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN WANT UNSCOM TO CONTINUE ITS 
INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ, DESPITE IRAQ'S REFUSAL TO ALLOW IT TO CARRY 
OUT ITS WORK THERE.  RUSSIA, FRANCE AND CHINA SAY UNSCOM AND ITS 
CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BUTLER, HAVE LOST THEIR CREDIBILITY, AND A NEW 
MECHANISM FOR DISARMAMENT MUST BE FOUND.

FRENCH AMBASSADOR ALAIN DEJAMMET:

                      /// DEJAMMET ACT ///

         WE DO  NOT  BELIEVE THAT THE SOLUTION, TO BE QUITE 
         CLEAR, IS TO IGNORE IRAQ OR TO LET IRAQ FALL INTO A 
         STATE OF ISOLATION WITHOUT ANY INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE IN
         THE TERRITORY.  WE DO  NOT  BELIEVE THAT IT IS JUST BY 
         OVERFLYING IRAQ THAT YOU WILL HAVE PRECISE KNOWLEDGE OF 
         WHAT IT IS DOING IN THIS COUNTRY.  IF OUR GOAL IS REALLY
         TO PREVENT IRAQ FROM RECONSTRUCTING POSSIBLE CAPACITY, 
         WE NEED TO IMAGINE SOMETHING NEW, AND THIS SOLUTION 
         WOULD BE TO SEND BACK A REVAMPED U-N COMMISSION, 
         WHATEVER THE NAME.  THE NAME IS  NOT  IMPORTANT, BUT IT 
         MUST SURELY BE PROFESSIONAL.

                         /// END ACT ///

DIPLOMATS SAY IT IS BY  NO  MEANS CLEAR THAT THE PANELS WILL 
PROVIDE A BASIS THAT WILL MAKE IT EASIER FOR THE U-N SECURITY 
COUNCIL TO REACH AGREEMENT ON THE QUESTION OF IRAQI DISARMAMENT. 
BUT THEY SAY CREATION OF THE PANELS APPEARS TO OFFER THE BEST IF 
NOT  THE ONLY AVENUE FOR BREAKING THE CURRENT DEADLOCK.  AND THEY
SAY ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AGREE THE DEADLOCK MUST BE BROKEN.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW

10-Feb-99 2:40 PM EST (1940 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.