Baghdad ready to cooperate with Annan to settle the crisis
Iraq has not changed its position since yesterday when Iraq's Deputy Premier Tariq Aziz expressed his country's readiness to work with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to settle the crisis and stop US- British threats to direct air strikes. Aziz added Annan is welcome and "we are ready to cooperate with him."
Aziz did not give any concessions concerning the question of cooperation with UNSCOM, adding that the "ball is now in the court of Annan and the UN Security Council." When he was asked whether Baghdad asks the interference of Annan Aziz said "There is a crisis and if any body wants to settle it by diplomatic means, Let him do so." Aziz proceeded "it is Annan's legitimate and moral responsibility to interfere in his capacity as a Secretary General for the international organization."
The UN Security Council today is to discuss the matter for possible solutions to this crisis. Russia, which is a permanent member of the Security Council expressed great concern over a military strike against Iraq. At the invitation of Russia, the UN Security Council held a close-door meeting yesterday to discuss the decision on withdrawing the UNSCOM team and most of the aids employees recruited in Baghdad for fears of possible military strikes against Iraq. The Russian side stressed that the use of force will be of grave consequences not only on the ability of the UN to proceed in the monitoring and control operations inside Iraq but also in maintaining the stability of the Middle East region as a whole.
Commenting about reports of a released Russian statement stating opposition to the use of force against Iraq, the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said today that Russia wants a peaceful solution. She said "America wants a peaceful outcome but we are prepared to act" adding that the US is authorized to strike by previous UN resolutions and that no further warnings are needed in such a case.
Albright reiterated US objectives from such a strike saying "if we were to use force, it would be to degrade his ability to develop and deliver weapons of mass destruction and to degrade his ability to threaten his neighbors." She added that the US will increase help to Iraqi opposition and looks forward to a post "Saddam" Iraq.
Albright added that the US is "deeply concerned" about civilian casualties and that "the President wants to make sure there are as few civilian casualties as possible."
Albright added that "Saddam Hussein cannot have two goals, have the sanctions removed and keep his weapons of mass destruction.," comments that were also echoed later in the day by the US President Bill Clinton who added that "Saddam Hussein has it within his hands to end the crisis know" by cooperating with UNSCOM.
Albright gave the outline of what needs to be done to resolve this crisis saying that "He (Saddam Hussein) needs to rescind publicly his decision" to kick the UN inspection team out and to let them to do their work. Albright further added that she is in frequent talks with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who is to meet late today with the UN Security Council to decided on a course of action.
Joe Lockhart, White House spokesman said today that it is "our preference is to work this out to where UNSCOM can go back and do its work." The US president has not changed plans to head to Malaysia for an economic summit. Lockhart warned Iraq against misinterpreting the leave of the president from Washington.
UPDATE: Annan: Events may be running away from us