Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=11-6-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ RESOLUTION (L)

NUMBER=2-296170

BYLINE=ELAINE JOHANSON

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

VOICED AT:

INTRO: The United States and Britain are pressing for a vote on Iraq this week in the U-N Security Council, after Washington presented today (Wednesday) a revised but still tough resolution demanding Baghdad cooperate fully with weapons inspectors. V-O-A correspondent Elaine Johanson reports from New York:

TEXT: The new U-S draft resolution demands unconditional access to all suspected weapons-related sites in Iraq. It gives the U-N inspectors, who have been out of the country for almost four years, no more than 45 days after adoption of the resolution to resume inspections. And it warns Iraq of serious consequences should it fail to comply fully with efforts to rid Iraq of banned weapons of mass destruction.

The resolution does not give Washington an automatic right to use force against Iraq, which key Council members Russia, France and China oppose. It sets out a two-stage process, close to what the French want, which commits the United States to consult first with the Security Council before deciding on military action.

U-S ambassador John Negroponte says he reassured the 15-member Council that the United States will not act precipitously:

///NEGROPONTE ACT///

President Bush has said on repeated occasions that the use of force, war, would be a last resort; that he wants to give the United Nations and the Security Council a chance. And we believe the resolution that we laid down is the best way to achieve the disarmament of Iraq by peaceful means, obviously provided that Iraq complies fully with those obligations.

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Meanwhile, Secretary-General Kofi Annan says he wants the Council to act swiftly on Iraq, which means getting the inspectors back in as soon as possible, and in a unified manner:

///ANNAN ACT///

I have always maintained that it is important that the Council speaks with one voice. And I hope everyone will be seeking a broad consensus. I would prefer, of course, to see a unanimous decision.

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However, there still are problems with the revised U-S draft. For example, it includes a provision for arms inspectors to escort Iraqi scientists out of the country for interviews. Chief arms inspector Hans Blix says this is not workable and has expressed his reservations to Washington. France also is not comfortable with the idea.

The United States has presented its proposals as Iraq's last chance to comply with disarmament demands and its draft resolution as a "final offer." But U-S diplomats sense they are in the "end-game" on an acceptable resolution and have not ruled out the possibility of making some adjustments in the text. (signed)

NEB/UN/EJ/MAR