Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=03/22/03

TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT

TITLE=AFRICA-IRAQ REACT

NUMBER=5-53295

BYLINE=JAMES BUTTY

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: As the U-S-led war against Iraq continues, so does reaction from around the world. James Butty looks at the official view from a number of countries in Africa.

TEXT: Three African countries Angola, Cameroon, and Guinea -- are members of the U-N Security Council. They would have cast crucial votes on whether to approve military action against Iraq, had a second U-N resolution been presented to the council. While they did not get a chance to do so, some African countries, as well as the African Union, are making their views on war with Iraq known. Desmond Orjiako is spokesman for the African Union.

///1ST ORJIAKO ACT///

Our position is very clear. /// OPT /// It has not changed since the meeting of the Central Organ (of the African Union) of February third at the heads of state level, where it was decided that /// END OPT /// we would have preferred the full implementation of Resolution 14-41 by Iraqi administration. If the inspectors had continued with their work, Africa believes that some other peaceful means could have been found in disarming Iraq instead of going to war.

/// END 1ST ORJIAKO ACT ///

Mr. Orjiako says war kills innocent people and destroys needed infrastructure. In addition, he says Africa has other concerns.

/// 2ND ORJIAKO ACT ///

Our biggest concern is that war between the rich and the poor begets greater poverty for the poor, especially for the Africans who are already marginalized as the poorest continent in the whole hemisphere. We would have liked that 100 percent of the billions of dollars and pounds are being expended for this war should have been given to Africa in aid to solve these so many problems. We have the problem of H-I-V-AIDS; we have the problems of conflicts, and the problem of natural disasters.

///END ORJIAKO 2ND ACT///

Some African countries see the Iraq war differently. Ethiopia is one of two African countries listed by the State Department as members of the coalition of the willing. Abdul Mejid Hussein is Ethiopia's ambassador to the United Nations. He says Ethiopia knows the devastation of war, having fought one of the longest civil wars in Africa. But Ambassador Hussein says the history of Ethiopia has made it necessary for it to support the war against Iraq.

/// HUSSEIN ACT ///

For us in Ethiopia, it takes us back to the mid-30s, when Fascist Italy and Mussolini invaded Ethiopia and the League of Nations did nothing. So if we put it in perspective, for us, the failure of collective security is not a good thing. Our position is that the United States as an old ally and friend asked us for a couple of things to grant them overflights and basing, and we agreed to that. That's our position.

/// END HUSSEIN ACT ///

/// OPT /// Ambassador Hussein says Ethiopia is proud to be a part of the regional and global fight against terrorism. He says Ethiopia supports the African Union position on finding a peaceful solution to the Iraqi crisis. But Ambassador Hussein says on a bilateral level, Ethiopia and the United States enjoy over 100 years of diplomatic friendship. /// END OPT ///

South African President Thabo Mbeki has been an outspoken opponent of war against Iraq. Ronnie Mamoepa is spokesman for the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He expresses President Mbeki's concerns that the war against Iraq is a blow to multilateralism.

/// MAMOEPA ACT ///

/// OPT /// We express our regrets at the launch of a war against Iraq. It is our view that war is not a solution to world problems. /// END OPT /// We think that it sets a regrettable precedence of undermining the authority of the United Nations. In that context, therefore, we call on the United Nations to assert its authority to ensure that, whatever action is being undertaken, takes place within the framework of international humanitarian law.

/// END MAMOEPA ACT ///

On the eve of the attack on Iraq, (Wednesday, March 19) the United States for security reasons temporally closed its embassies and consulates in a number of countries, including South Africa. But Mr. Mamoepa says no one should have the impression that this was the end of bilateral relations between the two countries. On the contrary, he says bilateral relations between South Africa and the United States are, in his words, on course. (Signed)

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