Iraq calls US bluff and will allow inspections
Regional-Iraq, Politics, 2/11/1998

Efforts to resolve the current crisis between Iraq and the UN continue, with Iraqi and international diplomatic efforts underway. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said in an interview with CNN, "We are not putting conditions, and we are suggesting workable solutions," adding, "We do not want this body [UNSCOM] that was the cause of the crisis" to be the "judge."

Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary-General Esmat Abdul Meguid on Tuesday discussed with the chief of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Ezzedine al-Iraqi, the escalation of the Iraqi crisis with the US and the latter's threats to use force against Baghdad.

The two men reiterated their opposition to military action, stressing the importance of giving a chance for a peaceful settlement to the crisis. They referred to grave repercussions of a strike against Iraq on the region's security and stability and reaffirmed their refusal of any attempt made to violate Iraq's unity and territorial integrity.

Iraq's Aziz said, "UNSCOM is the adversary."

Aziz said Iraq has offered full and unconditional access for two months to eight "presidential" sites and other sites which the United States and UNSCOM claim may contain weapons of mass destruction, for specially formulated inspection teams that would be able to look anywhere and bring any kind of equipment with them. Aziz said the teams would have to report to the Security Council, saying, "this is a grave accusation," and "this case might lead to a war, and it should be taken by the Security Council."

Aziz referred to the plan he is proposing as "workable, realistic, scientific," specifying that the inspection teams should be:

1) a special group for surveying the sites for certification
2) composed of a representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and ambassadors of Security Council members certified in Iraq (China, France, and Russia)
3) equal representatives of each SC member state
4) 19 commissioners [highest-ranking UN inspection team members] from UNSCOM member countries, with other UNSCOM members allowed to join.

These teams would be given full access for a two-month period to finish their job.

Abdul Meguid told the US ambassador to Egypt about the draft decision prepared under Arab, Russian and French coordination to be submitted to the UN Security Council to bring a peaceful end to the Iraqi crisis. He noted Iraq's positive response to the UN Security Council resolutions and its willingness to permit UNSCOM to inspect 68 sites, including the 8 presidential palaces for two months.

He indicated Iraq's interest in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis. He also informed the ambassadors of France, Italy and South Africa in Cairo of the grave situation that will develop if the US threat of a military strike against Iraq is carried out.

Aziz criticized UNSCOM for giving false information to the UN, citing erroneous data that exaggerates the number of sites in some cases, and in other citing buildings that do not exist.

"The Americans and the British are telling the world that we are concealing weapons of mass destruction at those sites," said Aziz. If they are concerned, Aziz challenged them to come and bring all the equipment they want, but Aziz warned, "If they want to insult Iraq, that is not acceptable. If they want to use this [crisis] as a pretext to strike Iraq, then that is not acceptable."

Previous Stories:
  The failure of US foreign policy in Iraq   (2/10/1998)
  Arab League and Islamic Conference on Iraq   (2/10/1998)

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