Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=09/17/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-294143

TITLE=IRAQ/ARAB REACT

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The Arab world is reacting positively to Iraq's announcement that it will allow the return of U-N weapons inspectors without conditions. But Arab states are also eager to see how the United States will respond to Iraq's offer. VOA's Greg LaMotte reports from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.

TEXT: According to Egyptian political analyst Hassan Nafae "the region is breathing a sigh of relief today," following Iraq's announcement.

The head of the political science department at Cairo University says the Arab League was instrumental in getting Iraq to agree to the return of the inspectors in advance of any new resolutions being considered by the U-N Security Council.

/ / / NAFAE ACT / / /

I think this was the position of the Arab League that there is no need for a new decision because a new decision could imply the automatic use of force in case that Iraq is not complying with the U-N resolutions. And also the (new) U-N resolution could include some other demands rather than the return of the inspectors. That's why I think, from a political point of view and from a tactical point of view, the Iraqi response was a good one.

/ / / END ACT / / /

Mr. Nafae said he believes Iraq's decision was reached after Saudi Arabia announced it would back military action against Iraq if the United Nations approved it. According to an Egyptian government source "intense pressure was applied on Iraq by members of the Arab League who had grave concerns that military action against Baghdad would destabilize the region."

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said, "This is the beginning of a process of easing the tensions."

But according to Abdel Moneim Said, who is the head of the al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, plans for U-N resolutions regarding Iraq may not be abandoned just because Iraq has said it will allow inspections.

/ / / SAID ACT / / /

My information is that the United States will make a Security Council resolution that does not include only the inspectors but include other things. Probably things related to minorities to democratization and keep going on addressing Iraq.

/ / / END ACT / / /

Mr. Said says "the Arab world will be watching the U-S response with great interest."

A senior State Department official said the Security Council had to spell out "what inspections without conditions mean, what compliance means and what Iraq has to do."

The weapons inspectors left Baghdad in 1998 just prior to U-S and British airstrikes against Iraq. They have not been allowed to return since.

(Signed)

NEB / GL / awp