Iraq Keen on 'Comprehensive Solution' with UN: Vice President

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, September 10, 2002

Iraq Keen on 'Comprehensive Solution' with UN: Vice President

Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan told former UN arms inspector Scott Ritter in Baghdad Monday that Iraq is keen on reaching a "comprehensive solution" with the United Nations.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan told former UN arms inspector Scott Ritter in Baghdad Monday that Iraq is keen on reaching a "comprehensive solution" with the United Nations.

The official Iraqi News Agency quoted Ramadan as insisting that the return of UN arms inspectors is only "part of the whole issue" and the lifting of 12-year sanctions on Iraq must be considered in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

During a meeting with Ritter, Ramadan asserted Iraq's keenness on "establishing a transparent mechanism for a comprehensive solution with the United Nations in line with relevant resolutions to guarantee the lifting of the embargo and stop the aggression and interfering in Iraq's affairs."

Ramadan said Iraq is ready to settle outstanding issues concerning the UN Security Council resolutions "on condition that the United Nations meets its own commitments," adding that "the inspection is part of the whole issue and we should discuss all paragraphs written in the relevant resolutions."

Ritter, a US national who had been a member of the UN inspectionteam before 1998, agreed that Iraq's demand for a comprehensive solution to bring an end to the embargo is "lawful," INA said.

The former US Marine officer told Iraq's parliament Sunday that Iraq's cooperation with the United Nations on inspections is the "best way to prevent the war (launched by the United States)."

But Ramadan cast doubt on the suggestion.

"Why do people ask Iraq to allow the return of the inspectors while not asking the United Nations to intervene to stop the (US and British) aggression on the unlawful no-fly zones that is against all international resolutions demanding the respect of Iraq's security, sovereignty and territorial integrity," INA quotedRamadan as saying.

US and British planes have been patrolling the southern and northern no-fly zones since the 1991 Gulf War with the claimed aim of protecting the Kurds in the north and Shiite Muslims in the south from the persecution of the Iraqi government.

Ramadan also criticised the United States and Britain for insisting that Iraq is pursuing weapons of mass destruction, sayingtheir allegations are "not logical."

His assertion was echoed by Ritter, a tough inspector-turned sharp critic of US policy on Iraq.

"The truth is that Iraq is not a threat to its neighbors and it is not acting in a manner which threatens anyone outside its borders," Ritter told members of Iraqi parliament and journalists on Sunday, warning that the United States would make a "historical mistake" if it launches war on Iraq for that reason.

Iraq has been under sweeping UN sanctions since its August 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the embargo will not be lifted until the United Nations has verified that Iraq has eliminated all of its weapons of mass destruction and means of launching them.

Continuous spats about alleged espionage activities between Iraqand the UN arms inspectors led to crisis in 1997 and 1998, and eventually the US-British air war against Baghdad from Dec. 16-19, 1998.

Since then Iraq has remained defiant, arguing that its weapons of mass destruction -- nuclear, chemical and biological -- have already been dismantled.

Questions?Comments? Click here

US Vice President Repeats Accusations on Iraq

War on Iraq May Split Anti-terror Coalition: Russian FM

Belgium Criticized Britain for Lack of EU Policy on Iraq

Japanese Court Dismisses Germ Warfare Victims' Damages Claim ( 94 Messages)

China Plans to Stop the Overeas Flight of Corrupt Officials ( 69 Messages)

China Blocks the Way of Corrupt Officials Fleeing Overseas ( 5 Messages)

Survey Discloses Bad Service of Domestic Banks ( 4 Messages)

Quantitative Study Uncovers US Media Blackout: China Youth Daily ( 25 Messages)