DATE=6/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250338
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / BUTLER (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS' CHIEF WEAPONS INSPECTOR FOR IRAQ, 
RICHARD BUTLER, IS LEAVING HIS JOB AND PLANS TO WRITE A BOOK ON 
HIS RECENT EXPERIENCES WITH IRAQ AND THE UNITED NATIONS.  V-O-A'S
U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON HAS A REPORT.

TEXT:  RICHARD BUTLER HAS BEEN VEHEMENTLY DENOUNCED BY IRAQ FOR 
HIS ROLE AS EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF THE U-N SPECIAL COMMISSION, 
UNSCOM.  RUSSIA'S U-N AMBASSADOR HAS REPEATEDLY DEMANDED HIS 
REMOVAL FROM UNSCOM.  AND CHINA HAS CRITICIZED THE AUSTRALIAN 
DIPLOMAT, SAYING HE HAS SET BACK EFFORTS TO MONITOR IRAQ'S 
SUSPECTED WEAPONS PROGRAMS.

MR. BUTLER'S CONTRACT, BEGUN ON JULY FIRST 1997, EXPIRES AT THE 
END OF THIS MONTH AND IT IS NOW CLEAR HE WILL NOT BE STAYING.  
THE NEW YORK-BASED COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS SAYS HE WILL JOIN
THE COUNCIL ON JULY FIFTH AS A DIPLOMAT IN RESIDENCE.  THE 
COUNCIL SAYS HE WILL USE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE A BOOK ON HIS 
RECENT EXPERIENCES WITH UNSCOM AND IRAQ.

IT IS NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR WHO WILL ASSUME MR. BUTLER'S ROLE AS 
CHIEF OF UNSCOM, WHICH HAS A SECURITY COUNCIL MANDATE TO VERIFY 
IRAQ'S CLAIMS THAT IT NO LONGER HAS ANY WEAPONS OF MASS 
DESTRUCTION.

UNSCOM HAS BEEN LEFT WITHOUT ANY SUBSTANTIVE ROLE IN IRAQ SINCE 
LATE LAST YEAR WHEN IRAQ BLOCKED ITS ACCESS TO MOST SUSPECTED 
WEAPONS SITES.  IN DECEMBER, JUST BEFORE BRITAIN AND THE UNITED 
STATES BEGAN AIR STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ, UNSCOM EVACUATED ITS 
PERSONNEL FROM THE COUNTRY FOR SAFETY REASONS.

IRAQ CLAIMS IT HAS MET ALL OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL REQUIREMENTS 
UNSCOM IS ASSIGNED TO VERIFY.  BAGHDAD CHARGES THAT MR. BUTLER 
AND SOME OTHER MEMBERS OF UNSCOM, HAVE TURNED THE COMMISSION INTO
AN ESPIONAGE ORGAN, IN SUPPORT OF WESTERN INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES. 
UNSCOM DENIES THAT CHARGE AND SAYS IRAQ HAS CONSISTENTLY DENIED 
INSPECTORS ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND SITES THAT ARE CRUCIAL IN 
THE VERIFICATION PROCESS.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS IN THE PROCESS OF DISCUSSING HOW TO 
RESUME THE MONITORING PROGRAM IN IRAQ.  SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE 
COUNCIL HAVE RECOMMENDED CREATING A NEW MONITORING BODY TO DO THE
JOB, CONSIDERING THE POOR STATE OF RELATIONS BETWEEN BAGHDAD AND 
UNSCOM.  (SIGNED)

NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT

07-Jun-99 2:54 PM EDT (1854 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.