16 May 2002
U.S. Says Iraq Must Fulfill Disarmament Obligations
(Boucher says Iraq's obligations under the UN have not changed) (480)
State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters on May 16
that Iraq must fulfill its obligations regarding disarmament and
weapons of mass destruction "fully, completely, and unconditionally."
Boucher was speaking at the regular State Department noon briefing.
"Iraq's obligations have not changed," Boucher said. "There is no need
for a long discussion between the U.N. and the Iraqi government about
this; Iraq's obligations are well-known."
Boucher said that the while the State Department continues to hear
that Iraq may be willing to fulfill its obligations, "the fact is Iraq
hasn't done it yet."
Following is the excerpt of Boucher's remarks about Iraq on May 16:
(begin excerpt)
QUESTION: On Iraq. Ambassador Cunningham at the UN says that the US
now believes that it's quite possible the Iraqis are seriously
thinking about letting inspectors in there. Could you tell us more
about why he would have that impression and --
MR. BOUCHER: Well, Ambassador Cunningham didn't just say that. He said
a variety of other things as well. So let me try to put this all in
context.
I would say that, first of all, what I saw him quoted in the wires as
saying was "we hear from people that Iraq may be willing" and what I
would say is Iraq has talked about fulfilling its obligations rather
than actually fulfilling them. Iraq's obligations have not changed.
These are Security Council obligations regarding disarmament and
weapons of mass destruction, and Iraq has to comply fully, completely
and unconditionally with all the Security Council resolutions.
The resolutions mandate that Iraq provide UN weapons inspectors with
unrestricted access and cooperation in all respects. As the Secretary
has said, and as Ambassador Cunningham also made clear yesterday,
there is no need for a long discussion between the UN and the Iraqi
Government about this; Iraq's obligations are well known.
So while we continue to hear, as Ambassador Cunningham noted, from a
variety of places that Iraq may be willing to do this, the fact is
Iraq hasn't done it yet. They have come and gone several times without
coming and saying, yes, we accept the obligations without conditions.
And that is what we are waiting for.
QUESTION: So you can't say whether you do believe they're seriously
thinking about it?
MR. BOUCHER: We think they should. We think it is their obligation.
But predicting Iraqi Government behavior has been a very difficult
science at best, and I don't think I would start doing it from here.
QUESTION: Different subject?
QUESTION: Can I ask on that? One question. Yesterday, Mr. Wolfowitz,
the Deputy Secretary of Defense, said in Washington that the Iraqi
problem and the Palestinian-Israel issues called -- both issues are
very much on the front burner. Does the State Department share the
same view?
MR. BOUCHER: Yes.
(end excerpt)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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