DATE=1/18/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N - EKEUS (L-O)
NUMBER=2-258191
BYLINE=BARBARA SCHOETZAU
DATELINE=NEW YORK
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO:  At the United Nations today (Tuesday),the  
Security Council took no action on Secretary General 
Kofi Annan's recommendation that former U-N chief arms 
inspector for Iraq, Swedish diplomat Rolf Ekeus, head 
a new U-N disarmament agency for Iraq. Correspondent 
Barbara Schoetzau reports.


 
TEXT:  Security Council members failed to reach an 
agreement on the nomination of Mr. Ekeus, currently 
Sweden's Ambassador to the United States.

This month's President of the Security Council, U-S 
Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, says the Security 
Council will continuing discussing that issue 
Wednesday.

Mr. Holbrooke says Secretary General Annan decided to 
nominate Ambassador Ekeus to head the agency charged 
with eliminating Iraq's biological, chemical and 
nuclear weapons after an extensive search. 

            //// HOLBROOKE ACT ///

      The United States supports strongly and 
      enthusiastically the selection by the Secretary 
      general of Ralph Ekeus to be the head of 
      UNMAVIC. I would further say that having watched 
      Secretary General Annan go through this process 
      over the last few months, he has been 
      exhaustive, diligent, fair-minded and impartial 
      throughout. He has looked repeatedly for a 
      consensus candidate and has come up with the 
      person he believes is best qualified for the 
      job.


            //// END ACT ////

Mr. Annan nominated Mr. Ekeus after being unable to 
find a candidate the five Security Council members 
with veto power could agree upon.
 
But the nomination has become controversial. During 
his previous tenure as arms chief for Iraq, Mr. Ekeus 
accused Baghdad of deceiving inspectors. Iraq, in 
turn, accused Mr. Ekeus of spying for the United 
States and deliberately prolonging the sanctions that 
were imposed on Iraq when the Gulf War ended in 1991.

France and Russia oppose the nomination, saying the 
United Nations should put forth a new face, someone 
who can win Iraq's cooperation. 

China says it prefers a candidate from a developing 
nation. (Signed)



NEB/NYC/bjs/PT



18-Jan-2000 18:36 PM EDT (18-Jan-2000 2336 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.