United Nations Daily Highlights, 98-10-13

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From: The United Nations Home Page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

DAILY HIGHLIGHTS

Tuesday, 13 October, 1998

Latest Developments

HEADLINES

• Security Council members look to Iraq to resume full cooperation with United Nations weapons inspectors.
• United Nations Special Commission charged with Iraqi disarmament says Baghdad is trying to reverse "onus of disclosure."
• Security Council committee approves $2.5 million worth of spare parts for Iraq's oil industry.
• Secretary-General, concerned by rising tensions in East Timor, calls for reduction of Indonesian military presence there.
• Secretary-General urges Turkey and Syria to solve their differences through negotiations.
• United Nations workshop in Chile focuses on how space technology can predict disasters.
• Secretary-General unveils bust of Count Folke Bernadotte, first United Nations mediator killed in action.

The Council had been briefed by Mohamed ElBaradei, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and by Richard Butler, the Executive Chairman of UNSCOM -- the United Nations Special Commission charged with overseeing the dismantling of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

According to the President of the Council, Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom, Council members noted that the IAEA report stated that if Iraq recommences full cooperation with the Agency, "there would be no impediment to the full implementation of the IAEA's plan for ongoing monitoring and verification, which must be comprehensive and intrusive."

On the UNSCOM report, members of the Council focused on the need for Iraq to return to full cooperation if further progress was to be made, according to Mr. Greenstock. "On the chemical weapons and missile files, members of the Council felt that there were not many items still to be resolved if that cooperation was forthcoming," said Mr. Greenstock. "They noted that on the biological weapons file, rather more work was needed, which depended crucially on full disclosure by Iraq, including of information on biological weapons which they already say they have," he added.

Mr. ElBaradei told reporters that the IAEA had no indication that Iraq had nuclear weapons or nuclear-weapons related material or the means to produce them. But he noted that absolute verification was not possible in any country; therefore "we must continue to do ongoing monitoring and verification activities in Iraq and the system must be vigorous and comprehensive."

Since Iraq had suspended its cooperation with the Agency, ongoing monitoring and verification could not be implemented. "Our cooperation is limited to declared nuclear activities," he said, noting that the Agency now lacked "a very important search and detection capability." He expressed hope that Iraq's decision would soon be rescinded.

In his latest report to the Security Council, UNSCOM Executive Chairman Richard Butler notes that Iraq, which claims to have fulfilled all of the Security Council's disarmament requirements, is demanding that UNSCOM prove that Baghdad continues to hold prohibited weapons and associated capabilities. "This argumentation, were it to be accepted, would reverse the onus of disclosure clearly placed upon Iraq by the Security Council and instead would require the Commission to make the full disclosure of proscribed items, which only Iraq can make." The Executive Chairman questions what purpose this would serve. "Would Iraq then be asked to verify the Commission's statement?" he asks.

Mr. Butler cites the example of the biological weapons area in explaining his objection to this line of action. He recalls that for four years, Iraq declared that it had no biological weapons programme. When that claim was no longer tenable, Iraq provided a series of disclosure statements which were "neither credible nor verifiable."

The Executive Chairman reports that the disarmament phase of the Security Council's requirements is possibly near its end in the missile and chemical weapons areas but not in the biological weapons area. Iraq is permitting the monitoring work of the Commission to be exercised "only at a less than satisfactory level." Full disclosure by Iraq of all necessary materials and information remains the crucial ingredient for both an end to the disarmament process as well as future monitoring.

The Executive Chairman says that cooperation by Iraq could, at "a relatively early date," result in shifting to long-term monitoring and verification in the missile and chemical weapons areas. But he stresses that for this to occur, the question of the chemical warfare agent VX must be resolved. "Again, there can be no substitute for full disclosure by Iraq on this matter, a disclosure that has never been made," he states.

Mr. Butler says that Iraq's "unilateral destruction and concealment actions and its withholding of relevant documents" may make it impossible for UNSCOM to completely verify the claimed fate or disposition of prohibited weapons.

Spokesman John Mills reported that over the past week, Mr. Mills, the Office of the Iraq Programme received 45 new contracts for oil spare parts equipment for a total of 175 contracts with a value of $130,052,538 and has submitted 117 contracts to the Committee.

The approved 43 additional humanitarian sales application. There were no new contracts approved for the sale of oil.

Since the first deliveries in March 1997, seven million tonnes of foodstuffs worth more than $2.25 billion have been delivered to Iraq under the oil-for-food programme, according to Mr. Mills. Medical and health supplies valued at some $366 million have also been delivered to the country. In addition, more than $200 million dollars worth of supplies for electrical, water/sanitation, agricultural, education, settlement rehabilitation and demining work have arrived in Iraq.

"In particular, he is disturbed by reports of armed clashes in the Territory and by remarks which have been attributed to local officials and appear to have provoked large-scale protests in the last few days," said Spokesman Fred Eckhard. He said the Secretary-General intended to further intensify his consultations with East Timorese leaders with a view to ensuring their active involvement in the negotiating process.

Mr. Eckhard underlined the fact that it was incumbent on all parties concerned to avoid taking steps that could jeopardize or unnecessarily complicate the delicate efforts to find a just settlement to this long- running dispute. This was clear in view of the "important opportunities" that had been created for a resolution of the question of East Timor through the negotiations under the Secretary-General's auspices, and the commendable efforts being made by Bishop Carlos Ximenes Below and others to foster tolerance and peace in East Timor.

The Secretary-General's remarks came following a meeting with the Permanent Representatives to the United Nations of Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Syria, as well as the Permanent Observer for the League of Arab States to the United Nations. According to his Spokesman, the Secretary-General shared the Ambassadors' concern at the recent increase in tension. "He welcomed the efforts of Egypt, as well as Iran, to mediate a peaceful solution," said Spokesman Fred Eckhard. He added that the Secretary-General had been in contact with both parties "and is of the opinion that every effort must be made to avoid a further deterioration."

"The Ambassadors expressed concern at current tensions between Syria and Turkey, underlined Syria's determination to find a diplomatic solution, and rejected the threat of the use of force as a means to settle differences between States," Mr. Eckhard told reporters.

Earlier, the Secretary-General had received, through the Permanent Representative of Turkey to the United Nations, a letter on the matter from the country's Minister for Foreign Affairs.

According to the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, which is cosponsoring the event, satellite technology can give early warning of devastating natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. For example, satellites can detect minute differences in the earth's surface that could be the telltale signs of a life-threatening earthquake. They can also predict rainfall and help countries better manage natural resources, including forests, fish and other food supplies.

The week-long meeting, which began on Monday, is also focusing on how satellites can be used to advance education. According to the Office for Outer Space Affairs, educational programmes can be broadcast via satellites to remote regions that lack schools and other learning centres.

The conference is part of the United Nations Programme on Space Applications, which conducts an annual series of training courses, seminars and workshops. It is being cosponsored by the Government of Chile and the European Space Agency.

Count Folke Bernadotte had been charged with supervising the truce in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war when he was assassinated on 17 September of that year in Jerusalem by Jewish terrorists belonging to the Lehi Organization, also known as the Stern Gang.

"Contrary to popular belief, the pursuit of peace will not win you any popularity contests," observed Mr. Annan. "In many respects, it is not only one of the most dangerous pursuits - it is also one of the loneliest in the world," he added.

"Since the death of Count Bernadotte, the history of peacemaking has borne out that lesson of loneliness in one man's fate after another -- from Dag Hammarskjold to Alioune Blondin Beye, from Anwar Sadat to Yitzhak Rabin."

The Secretary-General said that the memorial would serve in the years to come as a tribute to Count Bernadotte, who had set a standard for what a peacemaker is that would remain valid for as long as there were conflicts.

From the United Nations home page at <http://www.un.org> - email: unnews@un.org

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