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S P E C I A L: Inspecting Iraq Russia seeks bigger role in U.N. arms inspections
March 6, 1998
U.N. inspectors go to work Friday in Baghdad
Web posted at: 9:49 a.m. EST (1449 GMT)UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Russia again is urging U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to name a Russian to a top post in the United Nations Special Commission, or UNSCOM, which performs arms inspections in Iraq. Last November, a similar Russian proposal was dismissed by the group.
Such a move would significantly increase Moscow's influence over efforts to determine whether Iraq has complied with U.N. orders to destroy long-range missiles and weapons of mass destruction.
The proposal was made Wednesday in a letter to Annan from Russia's U.N. ambassador, Sergey Lavrov, who suggested that Annan appoint a Russian as UNSCOM's second deputy chairman.
UNSCOM is headed by Richard Butler, an Australian. He has one deputy chairman -- American Charles Duelfer.
Annan has the authority to name senior officials of the commission without seeking the approval of the Security Council.
There was no official reaction from the U.N. but an official there told CNN that discussions on the idea "are under way."
Annan One source said Annan already had decided to make the appointment, but the timing of the announcement was politically sensitive because of the possible adverse reaction from Washington.
The United States has long resisted any changes in the inspection program which would undermine UNSCOM's independence and integrity. Diplomats who oppose the idea also say it will add unnecessary bureaucracy to the U.N.'s weapons monitoring system.
Iraq has claimed the commission is dominated by the United States and Britain, and that they have manipulated the inspection program to extend U.N. economic sanctions imposed on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait in 1990.
Correspondent Richard Roth contributed to this report.
Newsmaker profiles:
- Kofi Annan - U.N. Secretary General
- Saddam Hussein - Iraqi President
Related stories:
- Ritter-led inspectors return to Iraq - March 5, 1998
- Sources: No Brits, Americans to be on diplomatic team in Iraq - March 4, 1998
- Annan to name special representative to Iraq - March 4, 1998
- Annan: Iraqi violation could lead to military strike - March 3, 1998
- Iraq promises compliance with U.N., ridicules U.S. - March 3, 1998
- U.S. troops in Gulf 1st to get anthrax vaccine - March 3, 1998
- Security Council unanimously endorses Annan's deal - March 2, 1998
- Iraqis protest, but against what? - March 2, 1998
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