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10 February 1998

NO DEALS OR COMPROMISES IRAQI WEAPONS, RICHARDSON SAYS

(U.S. envoy says UNSCOM must not be politicized) (520)
By Judy Aita
USIA United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- The United States is not seeking to humiliate Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein over the U.N. weapons inspectors' access to
possible weapons sites, the chief U.S. envoy to the United Nations
said February 10.
Speaking to journalists outside the Security Council chambers,
Ambassador Bill Richardson said "we're not seeking anyone's
humiliation. We want them to abide by Security Council resolutions."
Diplomatic efforts are intensifying in the effort to convince the
Iraqi leader to cooperate with the U.N. before the United States and
Britain take action to force compliance. However, Richardson said the
United States expects Iraq to cooperate on two issues -- access and
the independence of the U.N. Special Commission overseeing the
destruction of Iraqi weapons (UNSCOM).
There must be "full integrity for UNSCOM -- leave it as a
professional, international organization," the ambassador said. "Let
us not politicize it and make deals."
"There are no deals or compromises in this process. Follow the law,
comply with Security Council resolutions," Richardson said.
Richardson is leaving February 13 for Japan and China to consult with
senior government officials about the Iraq crisis. The two countries
are members of the Security Council.
He will present the views of the U.S. Government on the continued
threat that Iraq poses to regional peace and security by its refusal
to cooperate with the Security Council in eliminating its weapons of
mass destruction capability, U.S. officials said.
The week of February 2 Richardson traveled to other Security Council
member capitals -- Sweden, Portugal, Kenya, Gabon, the Gambia, Brazil
and Costa Rica -- to discuss the crisis and the international
response.
The current Russian and French diplomatic efforts, Richardson said,
"are very sincere, far-ranging initiatives to try to resolve the
crisis and they should be commended."
"But our position and the position of many others is very clear: Abide
by Security Council resolutions," Richardson said of Saddam Hussein's
obligations under the Gulf War cease-fire agreement.
Saying he hasn't given up, Secretary General Kofi Annan cleared his
calendar February 10 in order to focus on Iraq. Among his meetings
were talks with French Ambassador Alain Dejammet and UNSCOM Executive
Chairman Richard Butler.
"We are at a very critical stage," Annan said before his meeting with
Butler. "The search for a diplomatic solution continues and I think we
should continue until we find one -- to the last minute."
"I do not believe that the hour for diplomacy has passed," Annan told
one news organization.
Annan said diplomatic efforts must make sure that Baghdad understands
that the council's resolutions are serious. Iraqi officials have
"painted themselves in a corner" and the efforts must focus on getting
them to back down through a "workable solution" that will allow UNSCOM
and the U.N. to carry out its work without humiliating the regime.
(For more information on the Iraq crisis, contact our Iraq website at:
http://www.usia.gov/regional/nea/gulfsec/iraqpage.htm)