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13 February 1998

TEXT: UN SECRETARY GENERAL ANNAN 2/13 STATEMENT ON IRAQ

(Annan working to get full compliance by Iraq) (380)
United Nations -- Secretary General Kofi Annan said February 13 that
he is working out with the five permanent members of the Security
Council the conditions under which he will undertake a diplomatic
mission to Baghdad.
After reading a statement announcing that he is sending a technical
team to Baghdad to look at the eight "Presidential sites," Annan said
that he is close to an agreement with the five permanent members on
the conditions under which he would undertake a mission to Baghdad.
He has held two meetings and has scheduled a third with the five for
February 16. The permanent members are China, France, Great Britain,
Russia and the United States.
In order for him to go to Iraq, Annan said he must hear from Iraqi
officials that "they accept the Security Council resolutions, they are
prepared to work with us to disarm Iraq, and that they respect the
resolutions of the council.
Following is the text of Annan's remarks:
(Begin text)
I met this afternoon with Permanent Representatives of the permanent
members of the Security Council to resume the discussions we began on
Wednesday on ways of resolving the current crisis relating to United
Nations inspections in Iraq.
We reaffirmed the basic principles at stake, including the need to
implement the resolutions of the Security Council fully and without
conditions.
The meeting focused on the issue of the so-called "Presidential sites
and palaces," in particular on the need to define them and the
possible exploration of modalities to inspect them. Large areas of
common ground emerged, but discussions will continue and we will meet
again later during this long weekend, specifically on Monday at 4pm.
I also informed the Permanent Representatives of my decision to send a
technical team to Baghdad this weekend to work with Iraq to map the
Presidential sites urgently. I expect them to conclude this task
within three or four days.
The participants in the meeting expressed full confidence in UNSCOM
and its work, which is continuing elsewhere in Iraq and which must
continue unimpeded.
New York, 13 February 1998
(End text)