UN Resolution Aimed at Iraqi Disarmament Through Sound Inspections: China

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, November 09, 2002

UN Resolution Aimed at Iraqi Disarmament Through Sound Inspections: China

The new UN Security Council resolution is aimed at the disarmament of Iraq through effective inspections, a senior Chinese diplomat said here Friday.

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The new UN Security Council resolution is aimed at the disarmament of Iraq through effective inspections, a senior Chinese diplomat said here Friday.

Zhang Yishan, the acting Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, made the statement at an open Security Councilmeeting after the 15-nation body unanimously adopted the new resolution.

"The purpose of the resolution is to achieve the disarmament ofIraq through effective inspections," he said. "The text no longer includes automaticity for authorizing the use of force."

Zhang is referring to the original demand by the United States and Britain, which cosponsored the draft resolution, to get the council authorization of the automatic use of force against Iraq if there is any Iraqi noncompliance. The two countries later dropped the demand due to strong opposition from other council members, including China.

According to the resolution, only the Security Council has the final say on whether Iraq abides by all relevant council resolutions and fully cooperates with the United Nations.

The council will make the decision, if any, on the basis of a report by the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

China holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council forthe month of November.

"China supports the two-stage approach," he said. "The Chinese delegation has actively participated in all stages of the consultations on the draft resolution, and put forward its views and suggestions in a constructive manner."

"We are pleased to note that after many rounds of consultations,the cosponsors of the draft resolution accommodated our concerns, and the council members have finally reached consensus," he said.

As a result of the eight-week arduous negotiations among the five permanent members and later 10 nonpermanent members of the council, "the text (of the new resolution) no longer includes automaticity for authorizing the use of force," he said.

"We are also pleased to note that at the request of many members, including China, the resolution has now included some important elements -- 'reaffirming the commitment of all Member States to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, Kuwait, and the neighboring States,' 'commending the (UN) secretary-general and members of the League of Arab States and itssecretary-general for their efforts,' and 'recalling its resolution 1382 of Nov. 29, 2001 and its intention to implement itfully.'"

"The Security Council shoulders primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security entrusted to it by the Charter of the United Nations," he said. "Now the council has adopted this important resolution by the Security Council at this crucial moment."

"We hope it will contribute to preserving the authority of the Security Council, facilitate a political settlement of the question of Iraq, and enable an early return of UN inspectors to Iraq," he said.

"It is our hope that Iraq will seriously implement the resolution, fully cooperate with UN weapons inspectors and fully comply with its disarmament obligation so as to create conditions for an early and comprehensive resolution of the question of Iraq," he said.

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