Egypt says Iraq will allow UN inspectors in presidential sites
Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/5/1998

Egypt's Foreign Minister Amr Moussa on Wednesday said Iraq has informed Cairo of its willingness to allow UN arms inspectors to enter eight Iraqi "presidential" sites.

In a statement Moussa said on Wednesday that he received a telephone call from his Iraqi counterpart, Muhammad al-Sahaf, informing him of Iraq's consent to open the eight sites to inspection. Moussa added that Egyptian diplomatic moves continue to establish a peaceful solution to the crisis.

The US continues to insist on unfettered access with the US President saying, "We are very resolute on the inspection issue." In a similar statement to the US position, British Prime Minister Tony Blair said that "if he (Iraq's president) fails to respond, then he knows that the threat of force is there and is real." Blair continued on saying, "We want a diplomatic solution", but that "the success or failure rests" on Iraq.

Russia, a member of the UN Security Council, continues to oppose with its very strong statements allowing the use of force against Iraq, with Reuters reporting President Yeltsin as saying "We should not allow a U.S. military strike under any circumstances."

President Clinton, who acknowledged a phone conversation with Yeltsin, did not deny this statement by Yeltsin. It is not clear how far Russia is willing to go in support of its position, as Yeltsin has made comments that could only be interpreted as of a very serious warning to the US yesterday by saying that the kind of rhetoric President Clinton is indulged in could lead to a "world war."

Meanwhile in Baghdad, the Iraqi authorities told the French envoy they are in agreement with basic components of the French initiative launched by President Jacques Chirac to solve the Iraqi crisis with the UN.

AFP quoted the Iraqi officials as expressing readiness to deal properly with the French initiative and to continue dialogue with Moscow, Paris and other parties concerned, and sides who wish to settle the crisis by peaceful means.

In Bogota, Colombia's president Ernesto Samper Pizano, who is the current chairman of the Non-aligned Movement said all political moves must be carried out before adopting a decision to use force against Iraq. In Paris, France reiterated objection to any military action against Iraq and called for finding a peaceful solution, and settling the crisis in terms of diplomacy.

In Athens, a spokesman for the Greek government renewed his country's rejection of a military strike against Iraq, and said in Wednesday's press statements that any country contributing to implementing UN resolutions is making a positive drive.

In Doha, the Qatari Cabinet expressed its deep concern over the Iraqi crisis and called for making continued diplomatic efforts to solve it.

In Amman, Jordan parliament deputies denounced any aggression against Iraq and its people. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the parliamentarians called on all Arab countries to move collectively and seriously, and to adopt a united stand to confront any aggression against Iraq and to find best ways to bringing it out of the ordeal. The statement also called on the Arab Parliamentary Union to convene an extraordinary session to discuss the Iraqi crisis and to adopt positions conducive to solving it by peaceful means.

Previous Stories:
  Arab diplomatic efforts underway to resolve Iraq situation   (2/5/1998)
  Arab League condemns threats against Iraq   (2/4/1998)
  OIC concern over plans to strike Iraq   (2/3/1998)

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