17 October 2002
U.S., U.K., France Give Outlines of Iraq Resolution
(Nations press for strong resolution, clear warning) (950) By Judy Aita Washington File U.N. Correspondent United Nations -- The United States urged the U.N. Security Council October 17 to be resolute, united, and unambiguous in telling Iraq what must be done to disarm, and it said that it does not want to use force against Iraq but will do so if necessary. U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said that the U.S. position on Iraq has been clear since President Bush addressed the General Assembly on September 12: "There can be no more 'business-as-usual' or toothless resolutions that Iraq will continue to ignore." "Our intent is that the council meet the challenge and stand firm, resolute, and united in adopting a resolution that holds Iraq to its commitments, that lays out clearly what Iraq must do to comply and which states that there will be consequences if Iraq refuses to comply," Negroponte said. Five weeks have passed and the spotlight is now back on the Security Council, he said. "We hope and expect that the Security Council will act and play its proper role as safeguard of our common security. If it fails to do so, then we and other states will be forced to act." Since September 12, the U.S. has seen signs of emerging council unity during intensive discussions at the U.N. and in numerous capitals at the highest levels, Negroponte said. And the international community has "also seen clear signs that Iraq is reverting to form." "We have seen Iraq invite inspectors to return 'without conditions,' and then immediately place conditions," he said. "We have seen requests for clarity from UNMOVIC (U.N. Monitoring Verification and Inspections Commission) and IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) on practical arrangements met by Iraqi obfuscation and multiple answers, which, in fact, avoid answering at all." In its first test of cooperation, Iraq has shown it hopes to return to "the word games, ephemeral commitments, and misdirection of the past while continuing to develop the world's deadliest weapons," the ambassador said. "This is why a clear, firm message from this council is so important," Negroponte said. "Miscalculation by Iraq will be dangerous. This body, and indeed the entire membership of the U.N., do no favor to the people of Iraq, do no favor to those who seek a better future for Iraq...if they create the impression that an outcome in which Iraq retains its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs is an acceptable or possible outcome," the ambassador said. A resolution being drafted by the United States and United Kingdom addresses Iraq's material breach of its obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions, specifies the types of access and authorities that UNMOVIC and IAEA must have to be able to effectively verify Iraqi disarmament, makes clear Iraq's obligations, and articulates to Iraq that there will be consequences for non-compliance, the U.S. ambassador said. He added that the two countries were taking into account the views expressed by the more than 60 nations that spoke during the council's two-day debate on Iraq and would be presenting their draft resolution "with clear and immediate requirements" to the council "in the near future." Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom told the council that his government's "firm objective is the complete disarmament of Iraq in the area of weapons of mass destruction, by peaceful means. I repeat, our first preference is a peaceful solution to the current crisis surrounding Iraq." "Ensuring that there is such a solution lies in the hands of Iraq," he said. Greenstock also urged the council to send a tough signal to Iraq. If it doesn't, he said, "we shall be ignoring the realities. The weaker we collectively appear, the more probable it is that military action will be the outcome." Stressing that council members "cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand and pretend the problem does not exist," the ambassador briefly outlined Baghdad's threat. "The U.K. analysis, backed up by reliable intelligence, indicates that Iraq still possesses chemical and biological materials, has continued to produce them, has sought to weaponize them, and has active military plans for the deployment of such weapons," he said. "The U.K. analysis, backed up by reliable intelligence, shows that Iraq has in recent years tried to buy multiple components relevant to the production of a nuclear bomb. "The U.K. analysis, backed up by reliable intelligence, points to the retention of extended-range missiles and to the employment of hundreds of people in projects to develop weapons with a range of over 1,000 kilometers that could carry both weapons of mass destruction and conventional warheads," he said. The British ambassador said that the permanent members of the council -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States -- have not been negotiating a resolution in New York without any input from the other ten council members. Talks have taken place bilaterally in capitals, he said. "Once there is a draft with a prospect of broad acceptance in the council, no council member will be excluded from discussion," Greenstock said. Agreeing that Iraq's defiance of the council "cannot be tolerated," France pressed its case for a two-stage approach, saying that it is the one which can keep the unity and cohesion of the council. "During the first stage, the Security Council should adopt a resolution clearly specifying the 'rules of the game.' It would define the inspection regime and ensure that the inspectors could fully accomplish their mission without any hindrance," French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte said. "This resolution should also send a clear warning to Iraq that the council will not tolerate new violations." If UNMOVIC or IAEA reports that Iraq is refusing to cooperate with the inspectors, a second stage would begin during which the council would meet "to decide on the appropriate measure to take, without ruling anything out of hand," Levitte said. (The Washington File is a product of the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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