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Military

25 March 2002

UN, Iraq to Resume Talks on Weapons Inspections

(Iraqi officials will return to New York in April) (430)
By Judy Aita
Washington File United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- The second round of talks between Secretary General
Kofi Annan and Iraqi officials over the resumption of weapons
inspections will begin on April 18, the United Nations announced March
25.
The secretary general and Iraqi foreign Minister Naji Sabri will hold
talks at UN headquarters April 18 and 19, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard
said. The secretary general had suggested the dates at the end of the
first round of talks and the UN received Iraq's formal acceptance on
March 22.
"The secretary general, himself, felt that two days rather than one
might be necessary," the spokesman said. "He's hoping for substantive
and focused discussion, specifically of the issue of the return of
arms inspectors to Iraq."
Eckhard noted that the secretary general was an intermediary and "not
empowered by the Council to negotiate anything less than full
compliance" with Council resolutions.
"What he hopes for is Iraq's signal to the Council through him that
they are ready to comply fully," the spokesman said.
At a press conference on March 13 Annan said that he would
"aggressively" pursue the UN's aim during talks slated for April. "My
objective is clear: that there is compliance and return of the
inspectors..."
"My mandate is clear: I'm basing my discussions with them -- and my
demands -- on the council resolutions and not beyond that," the
secretary general said.
Since 1998 Iraq has refused to cooperate with the UN on any weapons
inspections or further work on the destruction of chemical,
biological, and nuclear weapons and their programs.
At the end of the March 7 talks -- the first between the UN and Iraq
in three years -- the secretary general had characterized the exchange
as "frank and useful" and said they had covered the return of UN
weapons inspectors to Iraq; Kuwaiti and Iraqi missing persons; and the
return of Kuwaiti property. Annan said he expected a second round in
mid-April "based on a well-defined agenda agreed in advance."
The Iraqi minister also left a list of questions for the Security
Council on topics ranging from recent US comments on Iraq to the
lifting of sanctions.
Eckhard said the secretary general was submitting the list to Security
Council members "for their information." A number of the questions
would have to be answered by council members, not the secretary
general, and it will be up to them to decide whether to reply
"formally or informally or at all," he said.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)



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