DATE=6/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250141
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / WEAPONS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  CHIEF UNITED NATIONS WEAPONS INSPECTOR RICHARD BUTLER 
WANTS TO SEND A SPECIAL TEAM TO IRAQ TO DISPOSE OF CHEMICAL AND 
BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES LEFT THERE BY HIS WORKERS IN DECEMBER.  THE 
PROPOSAL WAS MADE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, 
AS WE HEAR FROM OUR U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON.

TEXT:  IN A LETTER TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, MR. BUTLER 
EXPLAINS WHY AND UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION
COMMISSION, UNSCOM, LEFT CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES AT ITS 
OFFICE IN BAGHDAD.

HE SAYS WHEN UNSCOM MEMBERS WERE EVACUATED FROM BAGHDAD IN 
DECEMBER LAST YEAR, THEY LEFT BEHIND A SERIES OF SAMPLES ON WHICH
TESTING HAD  NOT  BEEN COMPLETED, WITH THE INTENTION OF RETURNING
AND RESUMING THEIR TESTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  HE SAYS THE 
SAMPLES, INCLUDING THE CHEMICAL-WARFARE AGENT MUSTARD GAS, WERE 
PACKED AND CAREFULLY SEALED AND WOULD  NOT  POSE A THREAT, EVEN 
IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.

MR. BUTLER PROVIDED THE INFORMATION TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL IN 
RESPONSE TO A COUNCIL MEETING TUESDAY, AT WHICH RUSSIA'S U-N 
AMBASSADOR EXPRESSED ALARM THAT SUCH SAMPLES HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND
IN IRAQ.  THE SAMPLES WERE LEFT IN A U-N COMPOUND UNDER THE CARE 
OF REMAINING U-N OFFICIALS THERE.  RUSSIA APPARENTLY LEARNED OF 
THE SAMPLES WHEN MR. BUTLER, LAST MONTH, TOLD U-N OFFICIALS THAT 
SPECIAL PREPARATIONS WOULD BE NEEDED AHEAD OF THE SUMMER 
ELECTRICITY BLACKOUTS COMMON IN BAGHDAD.

IN HIS LETTER TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL WEDNESDAY, MR. BUTLER 
PROPOSES TWO COURSES OF ACTION.  FIRST, HE SAYS UNSCOM SHOULD 
SEND A TEAM OF EXPERTS TO BAGHDAD TO EVALUATE THE SITUATION AND 
DESTROY THE CONVENTIONAL LABORATORY CHEMICALS.  SECOND, HE SAYS 
THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE REQUESTED TO COOPERATE WITH UNSCOM
IN REMOVING AND DESTROYING THE MUSTARD-GAS SAMPLES.   (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/WTW

02-Jun-99 3:14 PM EDT (1914 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.