United Nations, May 8: The top UN arms inspector has recommended to the Security Council lifting of a travel ban on Iraqi officials, saying Baghdad had fulfilled the condition of granting free access to the inspecting teams.UN Special Commission (UNSCOM) chief Richard Butler, under strong pressure from Russia, France and China, informed Council President Njuguna Moses Mahugu of Iraqi cooperation and recommended termination of the ban which was in fact never enforced and remained on paper.
Butler said in his view the requirements of the resolution are ``at present sufficiently implemented to allow termination'' of the ban.
The 15-member Council will consider tonight butler's recommendation.
The travel ban on Iraqi officials who blocked UN weapons inspectors was adopted by the Council on November 12 last year at the height of the UN-Iraq crisis, but Russia, France, China, Kenya and Egypt abstained.
Under the resolution imposing restrictions, the ban provision ends a day after the chief inspectorinforms the Council of Iraq allowing unconditional and unrestricted access to any site the inspection teams want to visit.
United States Ambassador to the UN Bill Richardson said his country would not oppose lifting of the ban.
``I don't think there is much significance,'' he said.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
