ACCESSION
ACCESSION NUMBER:218731 FILE ID:TX-104 DATE:03/09/92 TITLE:EDITORIAL: "FIRM MESSAGE" -- TO IRAQ (390) (03/09/92) TEXT:*92030904.TXT EDITORIAL: "FIRM MESSAGE" -- TO IRAQ (390) (Following is an editorial, broadcast by the Voice of America March 8, reflecting the views of the U.S. government.) The U.N. Security Council recently issued a statement condemning Iraq for failing to comply with U.N. resolutions on monitoring and destruction of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. Iraq has refused to allow a U.N. team to begin destruction of equipment used for the construction of ballistic missiles and has, instead, submitted a letter asking for further discussions. The Security Council statement rejects the letter as unacceptable and warns Iraq of "the serious consequences" of its failure to comply with the U.N. resolutions. 1 This latest impasse comes about year after Iraq agreed in writing to abide by U.N. terms for a formal cease-fire in the Persian Gulf war. Among other things, those terms require that Iraq provide the full, final and complete disclosure of its weapons capabilities and that Iraq allow long-term monitoring and verification of its unconditional obligation not to use, develop, construct or acquire any weapons of mass destruction. Thomas Pickering, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations, said, "It is almost ludicrous that at every turn Iraq has suggested that every element of its military missile program be preserved and even...suggested that 100-kilometer missiles were wonderful civilian-type goods which should continue to be produced." Ambassador Pickering said that Iraq's "obligations are very clear-cut and the Security Council is deeply concerned (that) this is all part of a giant stall by Iraq." He dismissed Iraq's letter as "totally unacceptable." Meanwhile, British Ambassador ~David Hannay warned that if Iraqi officials don't pay attention, "they will be making one of those classical miscalculations of which they have made a number in the past, to the great detriment of their people." By this time, it should be clear to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein that the Security Council will not allow him to ignore U.N. resolutions. As Ambassador Pickering said, "the council has learned to speak in very careful terms to Iraq, and we hope the Iraqis have learned to listen to those careful terms." He said the Iraqis should "understand that the council is sending them a very firm message not to repeat the mistakes of the past." NNNN .
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