DATE=4/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247762
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ PANELS (L)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) 
RENEWED DISCUSSION ON POSSIBLE WAYS TO BREAK ITS DEADLOCK OVER 
WHAT TO DO NEXT ABOUT SANCTIONS AND DISARMAMENT POLICIES 
CONCERNING IRAQ.  BUT, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON, 
THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF AGREEMENT ON THOSE ISSUES AMONG KEY COUNCIL
MEMBERS.

TEXT:  THE COUNCIL MET TO DISCUSS THREE REPORTS DESIGNED TO HELP 
BREAK THEIR DEADLOCK ON KEY ISSUES CONCERNING IRAQ.  THE REPORTS,
WHICH INCLUDE A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE COUNCIL, WERE 
PREPARED BY SPECIAL PANELS, CHAIRED BY BRAZIL'S U-N AMBASSADOR, 
CELSO AMORIM.  

                       /// AMORIM ACT ///

         I THINK THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE THERE, ARE A WAY OF
         ENABLING THE COUNCIL TO FOCUS ON CONCRETE OPTIONS FOR 
         THE FUTURE, AND THIS IS A BIG STEP, OR MAYBE IT IS A 
         SMALL STEP, BUT IT IS AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN 
         RELATION TO THE SITUATION WE HAD PREVIOUSLY.

                         /// END ACT ///

BUT, DIPLOMATS SAY DIVISIONS OVER IRAQ POLICY SURFACED EARLY IN 
THE CLOSED-DOOR DISCUSSION ON THE REPORTS, WITH FRANCE AND RUSSIA
MAKING IT CLEAR THEY WANT SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ LIFTED.  BRITAIN
AND THE UNITED STATES ARE OPPOSED TO SUCH MEASURES, UNTIL THEY 
FEEL CONFIDENT THAT IRAQ IS NO LONGER DEVELOPING OR DEPLOYING 
WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION.

THERE WERE ALSO DIVISIONS OVER WHETHER A NEW WEAPONS MONITORING 
PROGRAM IS NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CURRENT U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION 
COMMISSION, UNSCOM.

DIPLOMATS SAY THERE IS GENERAL AGREEMENT AMONG THE COUNCIL 
MEMBERS ON THE NEED TO MONITOR IRAQ'S WEAPONS PROGRAMS.  THEY SAY
DISAGREEMENT FOCUSES ON HOW TO ACHIEVE IRAQ'S COOPERATION IN SUCH
MONITORING.  RUSSIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR, SERGEI LAVROV:

                       /// LAVROV ACT ///

         IT IS NOT A MATTER OF RUSSIA'S POSITION, IT IS A FACT OF
         LIFE THAT UNLESS IRAQ COOPERATES WITH THE UNITED 
         NATIONS, YOU CANNOT HOPE TO IMPOSE ANYTHING ON IRAQ, SO 
         THIS MUST BE BORNE IN MIND ALL THE TIME AS WE CONTINUE.

                         /// END ACT ///

DIPLOMATS SAY MR. LAVROV MADE HIS OPPOSITION TO UNSCOM CLEAR AT 
THE START OF THE COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS BY INSISTING THAT UNSCOM 
CHIEF RICHARD BUTLER LEAVE THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.

THE THREE REPORTS SUBMITTED TO THE COUNCIL DEAL WITH IRAQI 
DISARMAMENT, HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS, AND PRISONERS OF WAR FROM 
THE GULF WAR.  THEY EACH INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW TO DEAL 
WITH THOSE ISSUES IN IRAQ.  BUT THEY DO NOT DISCUSS WHAT THE 
COUNCIL CAN DO TO -- IN THE WORDS OF BRAZIL'S AMBASSADOR -- 
ENTICE IRAQ BACK INTO COOPERATION.  THE COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS BEGUN
WEDNESDAY ARE AIMED AT DEALING WITH THAT ISSUE.  DIPLOMATS SAY IT
COULD BE WEEKS OR MONTHS BEFORE A CONSENSUS IS REACHED.

DIPLOMATS SAY IRAQ MEANWHILE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE 
WEAPONS PROGRAMS WITHOUT U-N MONITORING.  BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR 
CELSO AMORIM SAYS THE STATUS QUO IS NOT A VIABLE OPTION.

IRAQ BARRED ALL U-N MONITORING LATE LAST YEAR AND SEVERED ALL 
COOPERATION WITH U-N WEAPONS INSPECTORS IN DECEMBER, AFTER THE 
START OF U-S AND BRITISH AIR STRIKES.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WFR

07-Apr-99 3:33 PM EDT (1933 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.