DATE=4/15/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248157
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ WEAPONS (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL HELD CLOSED-DOOR 
DISCUSSIONS TODAY (THURSDAY) ON EFFORTS TO MONITOR IRAQ'S WEAPONS
PROGRAMS.  THE DISCUSSIONS REVIVED DIVISIONS IN THE COUNCIL OVER 
HOW TO DEAL WITH IRAQ.  V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON 
REPORTS.

TEXT:  THE SESSION WAS HELD TO DISCUSS TWO, SIX-MONTH REPORTS ON 
IRAQ PREPARED BY THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION, UNSCOM, 
AND THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY, THE I-A-E-A.  RUSSIAN
AMBASSADOR SERGEI LAVROV WALKED OUT OF THE COUNCIL MEETING 
MOMENTS AFTER IT BEGAN.

                       /// LAVROV ACT ///

         UNSCOM WAS NOT IN IRAQ SINCE DECEMBER 15TH, THE DAY OF 
         UNSCOM REPORT WHICH WAS WELL KNOWN AND THE DAY THE AIR 
         STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ STARTED, SINCE THEN UNSCOM WAS NOT 
         THERE, SINCE THEN UNSCOM DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON 
         IN IRAQ, SO THIS REPORT, THOUGH WHILE TECHNICALLY 
         REQUIRED UNDER RESOLUTION AS A SIX MONTH REPORT IS A 
         WASTE OF TIME TO DISCUSS.

                         /// END ACT ///

RUSSIA WANTS TO SEE UNSCOM REPLACED WITH A MONITORING SYSTEM MORE
ACCEPTABLE TO IRAQ.  THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN SAY THEY 
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT UNSCOM AND ITS CHAIRMAN, RICHARD BUTLER.  
DIPLOMATS SAY MR. LAVROV'S DECISION TO WALK OUT OF THE COUNCIL 
MEETING THURSDAY WAS PROBABLY INTENDED AS A PERSONAL AFFRONT TO 
MR. BUTLER, IN ADDITION TO UNSCOM.

U-S AMBASSADOR PETER BURLEIGH DESCRIBED THE COUNCIL DISCUSSIONS 
ON THE UNSCOM AND I-A-E-A REPORTS AS EXCELLENT.

                      /// BURLEIGH ACT ///

         IT WAS GOOD.  IT WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR THE COUNCIL I
         THINK, AND WE WILL BE GOING BACK TO WORK TOMORROW 
         (FRIDAY) ON IRAQ TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS OF THE IRAQ
         QUESTION AND THE REACTIONS TO THE PANELS AND THE REPORTS
         THAT WE DISCUSSED TODAY (THURSDAY).

                         /// END ACT ///

DIPLOMATS SAY THE DISCUSSIONS MAY MARK THE LAST APPEARANCE BEFORE
THE COUNCIL OF UNSCOM CHIEF RICHARD BUTLER, WHO IS EXPECTED TO 
LEAVE HIS POST WHEN HIS CONTRACT EXPIRES IN JUNE.

ON FRIDAY, THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE 
DISCUSSIONS AIMED AT BREAKING ITS DEADLOCK ON IRAQ.  THOSE TALKS 
WILL FOCUS ON A SERIES OF REPORTS ON THE STATUS OF DISARMAMENT 
EFFORTS, HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS AND MISSING PRISONERS OF WAR IN 
IRAQ.  COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THEIR BIGGEST CHALLENGE NOW IS TO FIND
A WAY TO CONVINCE IRAQ TO COOPERATE WITH DISARMAMENT EFFORTS.

SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS APPROVED AFTER THE GULF WAR SAY 
SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON IRAQ CANNOT BE LIFTED UNTIL THE COUNCIL HAS 
RECEIVED VERIFICATION THAT BAGHDAD NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF 
MASS DESTRUCTION.  IRAQ WANTS THOSE SANCTIONS LIFTED IMMEDIATELY.
(SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WFR

15-Apr-99 2:51 PM EDT (1851 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.