The Hindu : U.N., Iraq talks end in a stalemate

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 07, 2002

International

International

U.N., Iraq talks end in a stalemate

By George Chakko

Vienna JULY 6. The United Nations failed to persuade Iraq on Friday to allow the return of weapons inspectors to Baghdad after two days of negotiations, but the two sides agreed to continue talks. Iraq did agree, however, on exactly how to return Kuwait's national archives, which were looted after its 1990 invasion of its tiny, oil-rich neighbour.

The U.N. chief went into the talks hoping to get agreement from the Iraqi Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, on the return of inspectors who have been barred from Iraq for 3 1/2 years. But the Iraqis had a much broader agenda, including the lifting of sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait and U.S. threats to topple Saddam Hussein — issues Mr. Annan could not address.

The U.N. Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, expressed optimism in spite of the stalemate. "There has been some movement, but obviously not enough," Mr. Annan said, adding that contacts would be maintained. "I will remain in contact with the Security Council with respect to Iraq's expressed wish for a comprehensive settlement. Talks are not broken." Mr. Sabri needs to consult with the leadership in Baghdad and get back to Mr. Annan for the next round, although as of now, no date has been set. "We have agreed to maintain contacts, including continuing discussions on a technical level," Mr. Annan said. He declined to answer a question about a possible U.S. attack on Iraq. He only said, "I am not sure whether the U.S. has taken a decision to attack or not. I am not here to stop an attack. I am here to get the inspectors in."

The U.N. chief alone doesn't have the ability to resolve the key issues Iraq wants addressed before allowing the inspectors' return. Mr. Sabri gave Mr. Annan a list of 19 questions at their first meeting in March — some technical and some political. The Chief U.N. weapons inspector, Hans Blix, addressed the technical questions at the second meeting in May and Mr. Annan sent the political questions to the Security Council.

These questions focussed on lifting sanctions, U.S. threats against Iraq, ``no-fly'' zones in northern and southern Iraq enforced by U.S. and British aircraft, and the creation of a nuclear weapons-free zone in West Asia.

The Security Council chose not to respond to these questions — which meant Mr. Annan went to Vienna with no answers for the Iraqis.

Mr. Sabri made it clear that Iraq would never agree to permit the inspections without "dual commitment" on the part of the United Nations.

"We do not accept that Iraq is deprived of its right to import one pistol while Israel has the biggest arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in the region, threatening peace and security of the region and the world," Mr. Sabri said.

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