UN: NEW YORK: SECURITY COUNCIL EFFORTS TO RESOLVE IRAQI CRISIS

(19 Nov 1997) English/Nat Responding to Russian efforts to resolve the Iraqi crisis, the U-S and Britain are prepared to offer concessions to encourage Saddam Hussein to allow American arms inspectors back into his country. But diplomats from the U-S, Russia and Britain insisted that Saddam first must back down on his decision to expel U-S members of the team and agree to resume U-N inspections, with Americans included on the team. At the United Nations on Wednesday, some United Nations delegates questioned the decision to pull all UNSCOM investigators out of Iraq after the Americans were thrown out. Iraq's Ambassador to the United Nations, Nizar Hamdoon, arrived at the U-N on Thursday as members of the Security Council gathered to discuss the standoff with Iraq. Several members of the Security Council are expected to challenge UNSCOM's chief investigator Richard Butler about his decision to remove all weapons' inspectors from Iraq. That followed Iraq's expulsion of American weapons' inspectors. The Security Council is also expected to debate the Russia's proposal that was drawn up in Moscow between Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz, and Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov. That proposal would allow UNSCOM investigators back into Iraq with the understanding that the Security Council would take up the issue of sanctions. SOUNDBITE: "All activities of UNSCOM and I-A-E-A (International Atomic Energy Authority) must resume unconditionally and after that we believe that activities of UNSCOM must be improved, facilitated and accelerated to implement resolutions of the Security Council in full and for no other purposes." SUPER CAPTION: Sergey Lavrov, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations U-S negotiators have said they are unaware of the details of the Russian proposal. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright cut short her trip to India on Wednesday for a meeting with foreign ministers from Russia, France and the U-K in Geneva. They will discuss Russia's proposals to end the standoff with Iraq. This morning, U-S Ambassador Bill Richardson continued to insist the only solution to the crisis is for Iraq to allow all UNSCOM investigators back into the country. SOUNDBITE: "Our bottom line is that unfettered, strong UNSCOM. Iraq must reverse course, that's our position - that's been consistent - that's the position we're going to maintain." SUPER CAPTION: Bill Richardson, US Ambassador to the United Nations Iraq's Ambassador to the U-N, Nizar Hamdoon, was adamant the debate in the Security Council would not interfere with the lifting of sanctions. SOUNDBITE: "What I say is that it's premature to discuss a third phase, we are in the midst of an effort to try to lift the sanctions so it is not appropriate at this point to talk about (Resolution) 9-8-6." SUPER CAPTION: Nizar Hamdoon, Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations The emergency meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, is due to take place at two o'clock in the morning (0100 G-M-T). The unsociable hour was chosen as it was apparently the only time convenient to all the foreign ministers and Albright. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...