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18 August 1998

SECURITY COUNCIL GIVES GO-AHEAD FOR IRAQI INSPECTIONS

(Reminds Iraq of cease-fire obligations) (570)
By Judy Aita
USIA United Nations Correspondent
United Nations -- Reminding Baghdad of its obligation to cooperate
with the United Nations, the Security Council August 18 gave its full
support for the resumption of weapons inspections in Iraq.
In letters to the UN Special Commission overseeing the destruction of
Iraqi weapons (UNSCOM) and the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), the council said Iraq's announcement that it would no longer
cooperate with the weapons inspectors was "totally unacceptable," and
the two agencies should continue to pursue their mandate.
The letters were in response to requests from UNSCOM and the IAEA for
guidance after Iraq refused to cooperate with them on further weapons
inspections. UNSCOM Chief Richard Butler said he had postponed planned
chemical, biological, and missile inspections after Iraq's
declaration.
"The members of the Security Council reiterate their full support for
the IAEA and UNSCOM in the full implementation of their mandates. Iraq
is obliged under the relevant Security Council resolutions to provide
IAEA and UNSCOM with the cooperation necessary for them to undertake
their activities, including inspections," the letters said.
"You should continue to report to the council on all occasions that
you deem necessary," the letters said.
"The members of the Security Council also take note with concern of
your assessment that under current circumstances, UNSCOM cannot
continue to provide the Security Council with the same level of
assurances of Iraq's compliance not to re-establish its proscribed
weapons program," the letter to UNSCOM said.
"The members of the Security Council also take note with concern of
your assessment that current circumstances result in a significantly
reduced level of assurance than would be provided through the full
implementation of the on-going monitoring and verification plan," the
letter to IAEA said.
Council President Danilo Turk of Slovenia said that it will be up to
the weapons inspectors to decide when and how to proceed.
The letters "summarize the general position of the Security Council
which is that Iraq must cooperate with UNSCOM and IAEA and abide by
the resolutions," Turk said.
The "general elements ... are not new," he said. "Specifically the
council recalled the two have a mandate to fulfill and encouraged the
two organizations to continue their activities including inspections."
Turk added that "the important thing is that the two letters were
adopted by consensus so all fifteen members subscribed to the letter
and spirit."
The council also expressed the hope that Iraq will cooperate and
mentioned that the members are ready to respond favorably to future
progress, the president noted.
The council "is not closing the door" on Iraq in urging the two
agencies to resume inspections, but approaching the latest impasse
with Iraq with "an open mind and firmness and clarity," Turk said.
After helping draft the letters August 17, US Ambassador Bill
Richardson said "Iraq is not going to goad the United States or the
Security Council into precipitous action. What is happening right now
is that a record is being established -- a documentary record of
Iraq's violations and refusals to comply."
The letters also expressed support for the continuing efforts of UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan and his special envoy to Iraq, Prakash
Shah.
In Baghdad August 18 Shah told reporters that "there is no change in
Iraq's decision announced on August 5" to suspend cooperation with UN
weapons inspectors.