DATE=3/10/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=IRAQ-ARMS INSPECTIONS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260076
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The United Nations today (Friday) formally 
appointed 16 people to advise the new weapons 
inspection commission for Iraq.  VOA Correspondent 
Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations. 

TEXT: The 16 -- 13 men and three women -- were 
nominated by U-N Secretary-General Kofi Annan and 
unanimously approved by the Security Council.  They 
will advise and assist the new chief U-N weapons 
inspector for Iraq, Hans Blix.

Jayantha Dhanapala (Jah-yan-tha Donna-pahla), U-N 
Undersecretary-General for Disarmament, says all the 
commissioners have specific expertise in fields 
relevant to the Iraqi assignment.

            /// DHANAPALA ACT ///

      All of them have expertise in the subject of 
      disarmament. Some of them have expertise as 
      diplomats working on disarmament issues, either 
      in their foreign offices or elsewhere. Others 
      have technical expertise in the various areas of 
      weaponry that they will be dealing with, such as 
      nuclear weapons, chemical weapons, biological 
      weapons and missiles.

            /// END ACT ///

Mr. Dhanapala says nine of the 16 commissioners were 
chosen by the secretary-general's office with the rest 
nominated by governments.  There are commissioners 
from all five nations that are permanent members of 
the U-N Security Council - Britain, China, France, 
Russia and the United States. The 16 commissioners 
come from around the world, but there are no Arabs in 
the group. Mr. Dhanapala says no Arab governments 
nominated anyone and the secretary-general's office 
was unable to identify a qualified Arab expert who was 
available to serve. 

Late last year, the Security Council established the 
current weapons inspection commission for Iraq to 
replace the one that left the country in December of 
1998 and was never allowed back.  The question remains 
as to whether the new inspectors will be allowed to 
fulfill their mandate. The Iraqi government has said 
repeatedly that it will  not  cooperate with the 
Security Council resolution that established the new 
weapons inspection commission. (Signed) 

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/KL



10-Mar-2000 16:17 PM EDT (10-Mar-2000 2117 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.