14 September 2002
U.N. Asks Arab Leaders to Press for Arms Inspectors Return to Iraq
(Secretary-General Kofi Annan meets with Arab League September 14) (240) By Judy Aita Washington File United Nations Correspondent United Nations -- Secretary General Kofi Annan met with the foreign ministers of the Arab League September 14 to enlist their support in getting U.N. weapons inspectors back into Iraq, a U.N. spokesman said. Annan told the ministers "we meet at a critical time, as governments are discussing war and peace. It's an unsettled world and every effort must be made to avoid another major conflict," the spokesman said. Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri attended the meeting. Another meeting between Sabri, Annan and Arab League Secretary General Amre Moussa was the scheduled for later in the day. Talking with journalists after the meeting Lebanon Foreign Minister Mahmoud Hammoud said that the Arab leaders "said quite clearly ... loudly and clearly that we are for the integrity of Iraq, for its stability, but as well as for the implementation --- the full implementation -- of all the resolutions regarding Iraq." He said that Arab countries want to see the weapons inspectors return and "with them will come the peace for the Iraqi people and stability for Iraq." "Before going to the military action, we have to work the diplomatic ways and use necessary means in order to bring back the situation to its normality," Hammoud said. Hammoud said that the Iraqi foreign minister told the meeting that Baghdad is ready to allow the inspectors back into the country. But, he said, Sabri gave no timetable and said that he would get in touch with the Iraqi leadership and report back to the group. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
