British statement on Iraqi sanctions

Britain said yesterday that genuine progress will not be attained on the issue of lifting sanctions imposed on Iraq unless Baghdad fully abides to the UN resolutions concerning the Iraqi weapons.

A statement from British Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett said, "If Iraq does restore full cooperation, and UNSCOM and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) are finally allowed to complete their work in accordance with Security Council Resolutions, we will, of course, as we have always said, support the lifting of sanctions."

The statement expressed Britain's readiness to take part in the process of "a comprehensive review of all Iraqi issues." Yet, it said Britain cannot do so unless Baghdad resumes its full cooperation with the UN inspection team.

The statement comes in the wake of a Security Council resolution Wednesday that indefinitely suspended reviews of the Iraqi economic sanctions in response to Iraq's suspension of cooperation with UN weapons inspectors.