Iraq Links Return of Arms Inspectors to Lifting of Sanctions

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, September 15, 2002

Iraq Links Return of Arms Inspectors to Lifting of Sanctions

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Iraqi Foreign Minister NajiSabri reiterated Saturday that the return of United Nations weapons inspectors must be linked to the lifting of the crippling sanctions imposed on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

"Resolutions consist of other topics," Sabri told reporters after he met his French counterpart, Dominique de Villepin, for 30minutes on the sidelines of the 57th session of the UN General Assembly.

"Inspectors are part of Security Council resolutions and we call for the respect of Security Council resolutions," said Sabri,now in New York for the UN General Assembly session.

He reiterated Baghdad's stand that the United States and Britain would have to stop bombing Iraqi targets in their unilaterally imposed no-fly zones and that the United Nations had to move toward ending sanctions.

But he denied that Iraq was setting conditions for the return of arms inspectors, who left the country in 1998, ahead of US and British airstrikes on the country.

"It is not a condition," Sabri said. "He who calls for singling out one issue and neglecting other issues and other provisions of Security Council resolutions is the one who is putting conditions," he added.

"We call for the implementation of Security Council resolutions-- stability and respect for sovereignty, halting continuing aggression by British and American planes on the Iraqi population for the last 11 years," Sabri said.

He also said that "Security Council resolutions call for putting an end to the sanctions which are killing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis."

On Thursday, US President George W. Bush, in his speech to UN General Assembly, told the United Nations to pressure Iraq to disarm or stand aside when the United States acts alone.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, during his meeting with Sabri, told his Iraqi counterpart that Iraq must bow to the united will of the international community and the United Nations by complying with arms inspection. France disapproves a unilateral US military strike against Iraq without Security Council backing.

The United States is seeking a new UN resolution which sets a deadline for Iraqi compliance and sets out the consequences for failure.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Mubarak to Urge Saddam to Honor UN Resolutions: Report

US President Urges UN "to Show Some Backbone" on Iraq ��

>> Full Coverage

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)