US Offers 'Final Opportunity' for Iraq to Comply

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, November 06, 2002

US Offers 'Final Opportunity' for Iraq to Comply

The United States offered a "finial opportunity" for Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, according to the latest revised version of the US draft obtained by Xinhua.

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The United States offered a "finial opportunity" for Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, according to experts of the latest revised version of the US draft obtained by Xinhua.

The new text, set to be discussed during Wednesday's council meeting, removed notably a paragraph recalling that "the council has repeatedly warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violation of its obligations."

After final decisions were made at the White House during Tuesday's congressional elections, the revised draft replaces that paragraph by offering a "finial opportunity" for Iraq to comply.

"(The council) decides ... to afford Iraq, by this resolution, a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Council; and accordingly decides to set up an enhanced inspection regime with the aim of bringing to full and verified completion the disarmament process established by resolution 687 (1991) and subsequent resolutions of the Council," the text reads.

The wording for "serious consequences" was seen as "hidden triggers" for military actions and was strongly objected by France and Russia. The key resistants are wary that the term could make the United States deem itself authorized, by the 15-member council, a formal license to go to war against Iraq.

Meanwhile, the council's president Zhang Yishan announced that a closed council meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Excerpts of latest revised version of US draft on Iraq

Following are excerpts of the latest revised version of the US draft on Iraq set to be discussed during Wednesday's UN Security Council meeting.

Decides that Iraq has been and remains in material breach of its obligations under relevant resolutions, including resolution 687 (1991), in particular through Iraq's failure to cooperate with United Nations inspectors and the IAEA, and to complete the actions required under paragraphs 8 to 13 of resolution 687 (1991).

Decides, while acknowledging paragraph 1 above, to afford Iraq, by this resolution, a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations under relevant resolutions of the Council; and accordingly decides to set up an enhanced inspection regime with the aim of bringing to full and verified completion the disarmament process established by resolution 687 (1991) and subsequent resolutions of the Council;

Decides that, in order to begin to comply with its disarmament obligations, in addition to submitting the required biannual declarations, the Government of Iraq shall provide to UNMOVIC, IAEA, and the Council, not later than 30 days of all aspects of its programs to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, and other delivery systems such as unmanned aerial vehicles and dispersal systems designed for use on aircraft, including any holdings and precise locations of such weapons, components, sub-components, stocks of agents, and related material and equipment, the locations and work of its research, development and production facilities, as well as all other chemical, biological and nuclear programs, including any which it claims are for purposes not related to weapon production or material.

Decides that false statements of omissions in the declarations submitted by Iraq pursuant to this resolution and failure by Iraq at any time to comply with, and cooperate fully in the implementation of, this resolution shall constitute a further material breach of Iraq's obligations and will be reported to the Council for assessment in accordance with paragraphs 11 or 12 below;

Decides that Iraq shall provide UNMOVIC and IAEA immediate, unimpeded, unconditional, and unrestricted access to any and all, including underground, areas, facilities, buildings, equipment, records, and means of transport which they wish to inspect, as well as immediate, unimpeded, unrestricted, and private access to all official and other persons whom UNMOVIC or IAEA wish to interview in the mode or location UNMOVIC's or IAEA's choice pursuant to any aspect of their mandates; further decides that UNMOVIC and IAEA may at their discretion conduct interviews inside or outside of Iraq, may facilitate the travel of those interviewed and family members outside of Iraq, and that, at the sole discretion of UNMOVIC and IAEA, such interviews may occur without the presence of observers from the Iraqi government; and instructs UNMOVIC and requests the IAEA to resume inspections no later than 45 days following adoption of this resolution and to update the Council 60 days thereafter.

Endorses the 8 October 2002 letter from the Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC and the Director General of the IAEAto General Al-Saadi of the Government of Iraq, which is annexed hereto, and decides that the contents of the letter shall be binding upon Iraq;

Decides further that, in view of the prolonged interruption by Iraq of the presence of UNMOVIC and IAEA and in order for them to accomplish the tasks set forth in this resolution and all previous resolutions and notwithstanding prior understanding, the Council hereby established the following revised of additional authorities, which shall be binding upon Iraq, to facilitate their work in Iraq:

-- UNMOVIC and IAEA shall determine the composition of their inspection teams and ensure that these teams are composed of the most qualified and experienced experts available;

-- All UNMOVIC and IAEA personnel shall enjoy the privileges and immunities provided in the Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations and the Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the IAEA;

-- UNMOVIC and IAEA shall have unrestricted rights of entry into and out of Iraq, the right to free, unrestricted, and immediate movement to and from inspection sites, and the right to inspect any sites and buildings, including immediate, unimpeded, unconditional, and unrestricted access to Presidential Sites equal to that at other sites, notwithstanding the provisions of resolution 1154 (1998);

-- UNMOVIC and IAEA shall have the right to provided by Iraq the names of all personnel currently and formerly associated research, development and production facilities;

-- Security of UNMOVIC and IAEA facilities shall be ensured by sufficient UN security guards;

-- UNMOVIC and IAEA shall have the right to declare, for the purposes of freezing a site to be inspected, exclusion zones, including surrounding areas and transit corridors, in which Iraq will suspend ground and aerial movement so that nothing is changed in or taken out from a site being inspected;

-- UNMOVIC and IAEA shall have the free and unrestricted use and landing of fixed and rotary winged aircraft, including manned and unmanned reconnaissance vehicles;

-- UNMOVIC and IAEA shall have the right at their sole discretion verifiably to remove, destroy, or render harmless all prohibited weapons, subsystems, components, records, materials, and other related items, and the right to impound or close any facilities of equipment for the production thereof; and

-- UNMOVIC and IAEA shall have the right to free import and use of equipment or materials for inspections and to seize and export any equipment, materials, or documents taken during inspections, without search of UNMOVIC and IAEA personnel or official or personal baggage;

Decides further that Iraq shall not take or threaten hostile acts directed against any representative or personnel of the United Nations or of any Member State taking action to uphold any Council resolution;

Requests the Secretary-General immediately to notify Iraq of this resolution, which is binding on Iraq; demands that Iraq confirms within 7 days of that notification its intention to comply fully with the resolution; and demands further that Iraq cooperate immediately, unconditionally, and actively with UNMOVIC and the IAEA;

Requests all Member States to give full support to UNMOVIC and the IAEA in the discharge of their mandates, including by providing any information related to prohibited programs of other aspects of their mandates, including on Iraqi attempts since 1998 to acquire prohibited items, and by recommending sites to be inspected, persons to be interviewed, conditions of such interview, and data to be collected, the results of which shall be reported to the Council by UNMOVIC and the IAEA;

Directs the Executive Chairman of UNMOVIC and the Director General of the IAEA to report immediately to the Council any interference by Iraq with inspection activities, as well as any failure by Iraq to comply with its disarmament obligations, including its obligations regarding inspections under this resolution;

Decides to convene immediately upon receipt of a report in accordance with paragraphs 4 or 11 above, in order to consider the situation and the need for full compliance with all of the relevant Council resolutions in order to restore international peace and security;

Recalls, in that context, that the Council has repeatedly warned Iraq that it will face serious consequences as a result of its continued violations of its obligations;

Decides to remain seized of the matter.

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