Iraq to cut-off Butler talks
Iraq, Politics, 8/5/1998

After talks on weapons inspections broke down between Iraq and UNSCOM chief Richard Butler, US State Department spokesman James Rubin said yesterday that, "the decision by Iraq to break off talks is disturbing."

White House spokesman P.J. Crowley added that in order to lift sanctions, Iraq is expected "as they always have been for the last seven years, (to) comply fully with UN Security Council resolutions and provide a full accounting of its programs of weapons of mass destruction," noting that the criteria for disclosing this program is not negotiable. It is "up for Saddam Hussein to determine what he wants to do," the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that all options, including the military option, are open should the situation deteriorate, but added, "Let's not raise the temperature until we get a full report from Chairman Butler."

The Nando Times reported that the Iraqi News Agency said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein proposed measures aimed at ending the sanctions, after Butler's departure, but no details were available on the nature or the measures. This came as the Iraqi National Assembly voted to stop cooperation with the UN weapons inspectors.

In a pre-departure statement to journalists upon leaving al-Rashid Hotel in Baghdad, Butler said he will submit a report to the UN Security Council on his failed mission in Iraq. Butler said that Iraq had refused his proposal to extend talks on banned weapons for another month, rather asked him to close the files of weapons.

US's Crowley today added that the US will wait for Butler's report to be submitted to the UN Security Council before making judgment, describing the Iraqi action as "bluster" and "a clear violation of the memorandum of understanding" and that the US "will watch Iraqi actions and not their words."

Crowley said the US is surprised that Iraq has not complied with the UN resolutions so far and has chosen to live with the UN penalties that cause a great loss of national income to Iraq adding that the Iraqi president and "his cronies backed by military muscle have been the key to his staying in power." He added that Iraq is not currently a threat to its neighbors.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan characterized the talks' collapse as a "hiccup," saying, "this may be a major hiccup, but a hiccup that we can overcome."

Upon arriving in Bahrain on Tuesday night, Butler said his proposal was submitted to the Iraqi Deputy Premier Tariq Aziz in Baghdad. Butler continued he will submit his report to the UN Security Council on Thursday morning. Earlier Butler elaborated that there is no crisis in the relations between UNSCOM and Iraq. Before leaving Baghdad for New York he asserted that he will abstain from using the word "crisis."

Meanwhile, spokeswoman for UNSCOM, Janet Soleivan, said that Butler shortened his visit to Iraq as a result of differences in the two sides stances in the talks held on Monday. She added that the Iraqi deputy premier asked Butler to inform the UN Security Council that the weapons elimination process in Iraq has been completed. Butler said this cannot be done because of pending issues.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said after the breakdown in talks that we "have the impression that UNSCOM has returned back to its old tricks."

Previous Stories:
  Butler ends Iraqi visit   (8/4/1998)
  New Syrian - Iraqi pipeline to be built   (8/4/1998)
  Iraq wants role in Kurdish agreement   (7/30/1998)

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