DATE=6/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / IRAQ / KUWAITI PROPERTY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-263547
BYLINE=BRECK ARDERY
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:

INTRO:  The United Nations Security Council is urging 
Iraq to return the remaining property it seized after 
its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.  V-O-A Correspondent 
Breck Ardery reports from the United Nations.

TEXT: In closed session (Monday), the Council received 
a briefing from Yuli Vorontsov, the Russian diplomat 
who is the U-N coordinator for the return of Kuwaiti 
assets.  Of particular concern to Kuwait are its 
governmental archives, which include tens of thousands 
of documents.  Kuwait also claims that Iraq still 
holds seized military equipment and museum items.

Iraq has already returned a large quantity of Kuwaiti 
property, but says it has been difficult to locate the 
remaining items that Kuwait claims are still in Iraq.

After the Security Council meeting, President Jean 
Levitte of France told reporters that Iraq should do 
better. 

                  /// LEVITTE ACT ///

      We take note that Iraq has returned a 
      substantial quantity of property over a nine-
      year period of time,but that there remains many 
      items of fundamental importance for Kuwait, 
      which Iraq is under obligation to return to 
      Kuwait.

                    /// END ACT ///

In a report on the matter, U-N Secretary-General Kofi 
Annan says it may never be possible for Iraq to return 
100 percent of all property taken from Kuwait.  
However, he urges Iraq to act in a spirit of good 
will, and give special attention to locating and 
returning the Kuwaiti government's national archives.   
(Signed)

NEB/UN/BA/LSF/WTW



19-Jun-2000 22:28 PM LOC (20-Jun-2000 0228 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.