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Iraq won't back down
U.N. envoys leave without gaining concessions
November 7, 1997
Web posted at: 5:44 a.m. EST (1044 GMT)BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- United Nations envoys ended their diplomatic mission to Baghdad on Friday with no signs that Iraq would back down in its standoff with American arms inspectors.
The three-man delegation representing the U.N. secretary-general hailed the positive atmosphere of the talks, but added Iraq has not budged from its decision to bar Americans from U.N. inspection teams.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Thursday that if Iraq did not "respond positively" to the envoys' insistence it revoke the order, he would have "no choice" but to turn the matter over to Security Council members, including the United States.
"The Iraqis have not informed us of a decision to rescind their policy decision of the 29th of October," U.N. envoy Lakhdar Ibrahimi said. "They have informed us that...the execution of that decision remains suspended during these discussions that are taking place with the Security Council."
On October 29, the Iraqi government announced that it was expelling American members of the U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM), but that order has been suspended while talks continue.
On Friday, for the fifth consecutive day, inspections were canceled after inspection teams were told Americans would not be admitted.
In a separate press conference shortly after the envoys spoke, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz insisted that Iraq has lived up to its obligations and is entitled to a lifting of the economic sanctions imposed after the 1991 Persian Gulf war.
"No matter what their position is, as I explained, Iraq has done its commitments," he said. "We are entitled to lifting the sanctions. The present situation doesn't lead us to that."
Iraq responds
Aziz: Iraq is not seeking a crisis 
230K/17 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Aziz renews threat to shoot down surveillance planes 230K/17 sec. AIFF or WAV sound Iraq's quarrel is with the United States, not the United Nations, Aziz said in his remarks. He claimed that the U.S. was using UNSCOM as a cover for espionage and intentionally delaying the lifting of sanctions against Iraq in an attempt to oust Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
"We have been in a situation since 1991 that the adversary is the judge. The American government says openly, clearly, that it's not going to endorse lifting the sanctions on Iraq unless the leadership of Iraq is changed," Aziz said.
American inspectors "cannot be satisfied unless the White House and the State Department and the Pentagon and the CIA tell them, 'be satisfied,' and that is not going to happen...as long as Iraq refuses the instructions of the American government and acts as a sovereign nation," Aziz said.
Aziz said that 44 percent of UNSCOM's inspectors and virtually all of its leaders are Americans or Britons, and that Russian and French inspectors are rare.
"The Special Commission is supposed to be a United Nations organ. That means that it is supposed to be an international organ," he said. "Actually, after six and a half years, this commission has not been fully international. Actually, it has been an American organ rather than an international organ."
Aziz said he intends to go to New York to present his case before the full U.N. Security Council. Ibrahimi said the U.N. had applied for a visa for Aziz to go to New York, but had not yet received an answer.
U.N. envoy Emilio Cardenas said that in one area raised by the Iraqis -- humanitarian assistance to Iraqis hit hard by sanctions -- there might well be room for compromise.
"When you deal with humanitarian issues, there is always a chance to improve the situation," he said. "There should be a chance."
Aziz said he wants to address the Security Council in person to present what he called "concerns and grievances" over the state of sanctions the conduct of inspections.
I think that any party has the legitimate right to ask that what is going on be at one point reviewed," Cardenas said. "As to whether the specific list of requests that has been handed over will be taken by the Security council, on a case by case basis, as legitimate requests, it is not for us...to decide."
Words 'success' and 'failure' avoided
The U.N. envoys, reluctant to label their mission a success or a failure, stressed the importance of continuing dialogue.
"I don't think that I will be the judge of the results, but we are very satisfied with the atmosphere," Ibrahimi said. "We hope the resolution of the crisis that came about as a result of what happened during the 29th of October will be satisfactory to the Security Council and to Iraq simultaneously."
But in closing statements, the envoys returned to the message they were sent to deliver. "What we have been trying very energetically during these two days to convey to the Iraqi side is that for them to have a better hearing...for their grievances, they would be very wise in...coming back to the situation before October 29," said envoy Jan Eliasson.
The delegation was set to leave Baghdad Friday for Kuwait, and to return to New York over the weekend.
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Related sites:
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- United Nations Home Page
- ArabNet - Iraq
- U.S. State Dept. - Iraq - Consular Information Sheet
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