DATE=1/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=NEW IRAQ WEAPONS INSPECTOR (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-258456
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:


INTRO: The United Nations Security Council today 
(Wednesday) reached agreement on a new chief weapons 
inspector for Iraq but he is not the person originally 
proposed by U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan. V-O-A 
Correspondent Breck Ardery reports from the United 
Nations. 

TEXT: In private consultations, the U-N Security 
Council reached unanimous agreement that the new head 
of the Iraq weapons inspection program should be Hans 
Blix. Mr. Blix is a Swedish disarmament expert who 
served as Director of the International Atomic Energy 
Agency for 16 years.

The selection of Mr. Blix came after the Council was 
unable to agree on Rolf Ekeus, a Swedish diplomat who 
was nominated by U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Mr. 
Ekeus established the first weapons inspection system 
in Iraq nine years ago, but his nomination was opposed 
by China, France and Russia. Those nations indicated 
that, since Mr. Ekeus was not acceptable to Iraq, that 
nation would not cooperate with inspections.

U-S Ambassador to the United Nations Richard 
Holbrooke, who is this month's President of the 
Security Council, told reporters he hopes Iraq will 
cooperate with Mr. Blix.

            /// HOLBROOKE ACT ///

      Let us see what Baghdad does. Let us hope that 
      they have some residual sense. Because the 
      international, unanimous opinion has now been 
      expressed. China was there, Russia was there, 
      France was there. Let those who saw divisions in 
      the international community note that I am 
      speaking now on behalf of a united, unanimous 
      Security Council.

            /// END ACT ///

However, a few minutes after Mr. Holbrooke made his 
statement, Iraq seemed to indicate it will not accept 
Mr. Blix as the new weapons inspector. Iraq's U-N 
ambassador Saeed Hasan said his nation will not 
cooperate with the Security Council resolution that 
established the new weapons inspection system for 
Iraq. (Signed) 

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/gm 



26-Jan-2000 13:08 PM EDT (26-Jan-2000 1808 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.