Tracking Number: 219309
Title: "UN Security Council Unmoved by Iraq's Explanations." After two days of meetings the UN Security Council remained unswayed in its view that Iraq has not yet complied fully
and unconditionally with its cease-fire obligations and must do so immediately. (920312)
Translated Title: Consejo de Seguridad ONU inmutable ante explicaciones por Irak. (920312)
Author: AITA, JUDY (USIA
STAFF WRITER)
Date: 19920312
Text:
U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL UNMOVED BY IRAQ'S EXPLANATIONS
(Tells Aziz it wants "immediate" compliance) (930) By Judy Aita USIA United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- After two days of meetings the U.N. Security Council March 12 remained unswayed in its view that "Iraq has not yet complied fully and unconditionally" with its cease-fire obligations and must do so immediately.
In a statement read by Venezuelan Ambassador and Council President Diego Arria, the council said "it hopes that the goodwill expressed by the deputy prime minister of Iraq (Tariq Aziz) will be matched by deeds."
Aziz meanwhile told the council that his government was ready to publish the names of missing Kuwaiti and third country nationals in Iraqi newspapers -- one of the requirements of U.N. resolutions it agreed to in ending Persian Gulf war hostilities -- and to provide the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with access to Iraqi detention camps. He denied that Baghdad was blockading Kurdish and Shia areas.
Aziz also did not indicate that his government would accept the long-term monitoring of its nuclear, chemical warfare, and ballistic missile weapons programs or sell oil under the tight control of United Nations monitors.
In fact, Aziz asked the council not to renew its plan for the Iraqi government to sell $1,600 million worth of oil to buy urgently needed humanitarian supplies for its people when the plan expires March 18. He suggested that Iraq discuss with the United Nations a plan to sell oil to Russia, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States and purchase needed supplies from those countries.
U.S. Ambassador Thomas Pickering said he saw "no evidence of goodwill" in Aziz's presentation and is skeptical about Iraq's interest in complying with the council's resolutions.
"We are once again in a cat and mouse game" with Iraq, he said. "There is every willingness to discuss at great length, but no willingness to accept the need for compliance much less to begin the actions to comply."
Pickering acknowledged some new points in the Iraqi remarks regarding humanitarian concerns. But, "essentially I hear a repetition of a great deal of what has been said before....Once again there is broad and general acceptance of a resolution but with all new provisos, reservations, preconditions and so forth. These are mandatory resolutions that must be complied with in full."
Pickering said the council is waiting for "a full, clear, uncomplicated basic commitment" by Iraq that it accepts the council's plan for long-term monitoring and verification of its weapons program.
The 14-member Iraqi delegation, led by Aziz, has met with the council in open sessions the past two days in hopes of convincing the 15-nation body to lift economic sanctions imposed upon it since its invasion of and subsequent expulsion from Kuwait.
Instead the council presented the delegation with an 11-page assessment summing up Iraq's lack of cooperation and delaying tactics, concluding that despite Iraq's statements to the contrary, it has determined that Iraq is not in full compliance with all of its obligations" under 687 and related U.N. resolutions.
In standing by its original assessment, the council sent the "clear message: deeds not words," said British Ambassador David Hannay.
Japanese Ambassador Yoshio Hatano said he was unsure that Aziz's answer covered his concerns about detainees. "We will carefully, carefully follow developments on this point," he said.
Arria told journalists after the meeting that "a sense of urgency permeated the presidential statement....We expect the goodwill will be matched by actions." He added that the council wants "no other qualifications" from Iraq and expects its position "to be put to the test immediately."
The heads of the teams who eventually will destroy the Iraqi weapons facilities estimated that it would be a few months before they can report on whether Iraq is meeting all weapons requirements in the cease-fire resolution.
Ambassador Rolf Ekeus, executive chairman of the Special Commission overseeing the destruction of Iraqi weapons, said that a U.N. ballistic missiles team will be in Iraq next week. In February Iraq refused to allow a similar U.N. team to destroy ballistic missile production equipment. During its visit, the team found evidence that Iraq was hiding Scud missiles and launchers.
At a press conference later, Ekeus said that he had not decided whether the new team would attempt to destroy the missile materials. Yet he stressed that the Special Commission had no intention of letting the missile production facilities remain. The commission would only discuss "on a technical level" how the material will be destroyed.
He added that the Special Commission expects to hold more talks with the Iraqi delegation in order to get the full, complete, and final information on Iraq's chemical, biological and ballistic weapons. "We hope the firm and correct action by the council will give results."
But Ekeus conceded that Iraq's presentation to the council "did not advance" Baghdad's attitude. "We heard a lot of promises, but there was no important acknowledgement of its obligation, no unconditional agreement" to comply with the council's resolutions, he said.
Hans Blix, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, added that the agency still wants procurement information from Iraq and will decide the date and means of destroying the al-Atheer site for the production of nuclear weapons "fairly soon."
Asked about Iraq's demands that such facilities be converted to civilian use, Blix said that "maybe the cafeteria" at al-Atheer could be left standing for civilian use.
NNNN
File Identification: 03/12/92, PO-411; 03/12/92, EU-408; 03/12/92, NE-413; 03/13/92, EP-513; 03/13/92, NA-506; 03/13/92, AR-502; 03/16/92, AS-102
Product Name: Wireless File
Product
Code: WF
Languages: Arabic; Spanish
Keywords: UNITED NATIONS-SECURITY COUNCIL; IRAQ/Defense & Military; INSPECTIONS; ARMS CONTROL VERIFICATION; ARMISTICE; AZIZ, TARIQ; PERSIAN GULF WAR;
PICKERING, THOMAS
Thematic Codes: 1NE; 1AC; 1UN
Target Areas: EA; EU; NE; AR
PDQ Text Link: 219309; 219578
USIA Notes: *92031211.POL
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