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S P E C I A L: The Standoff with Iraq Report: Iraq considers new Russian proposal
February 12, 1998
Web posted at: 9:36 a.m. EST (1436 GMT)In this story:
- 'Iraq ought to agree'
- Cohen: U.S., Russia disagree on use of force
- Russia denies selling banned equipment to Iraq
- Other developments
- Related stories and sites
MOSCOW (CNN) -- Iraq is expected to respond on Thursday to a new Russian proposal designed to avert a U.S.-led military strike in the impasse over U.N. weapons inspections, the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow said.
CNN's interview with Cohen
9 min. VXtreme streaming video
U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen, who is in Moscow, told CNN that while he had not been informed of such a proposal, he expected a "flurry of diplomatic activity" as international pressure increased on Iraq.
(179K/16 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
Russia, meantime, denied a report it had sold technical equipment to Iraq that could be used to develop biological weapons.
A L S O :
As diplomats talk, Navy ship's crew hones skills
Russia warns of consequences if U.S. attacks Iraq
'Iraq ought to agree'
A spokeswoman for the Palestinian ambassador to Moscow declined to give details of the proposal but, quoting the ambassador, she said, "Iraq ought to agree."
On Wednesday, Iraq said it was willing to allow new inspectors selected by the U.N. secretary-general to search eight disputed compounds for two months. But the United States quickly turned down the proposal, saying it would not accept a time constraint or a change in the standing team of U.N. weapons inspectors.
The Palestinian embassy spokeswoman made clear the proposal she was referring to did not duplicate the offer rejected by Washington.
A top Iraqi official called the U.S. rejection a "bluff" that could backfire. "They will suffer a major loss if they turn this bluff into a real refusal," Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf said after a two-hour meeting with the Arab League secretary-general. "The door is still open to diplomatic work."
Cohen: U.S., Russia disagree on use of force
Cohen repeated the U.S. insistence that U.N. inspectors be given unrestricted access. And a spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday described the earlier proposal as "absolutely hopeless."
Cohen on why the United States believes it must curtail Iraq's ability to manufacture weapons of mass destruction 358K/32 sec. AIFF or WAV sound The Pentagon chief, who arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for talks with Russian officials on several issues, including the standoff, said the two countries disagree on whether or not military force can be used to enforce U.N. resolutions on Iraq.
But, Cohen told CNN, he has received a "warm reception" in Moscow and did not foresee any serious problem in U.S.-Russian dealings on Iraq "as long as we continue to keep the line of communication open."
Russia denies selling banned equipment to Iraq
Iraqi fermentation equipment A spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry denied a report that U.N. arms inspectors last year had found evidence of what they believed to be a multimillion-dollar deal by the Russian government to sell Iraq technical equipment that could be used to develop biological weapons.
The Washington Post story, which quoted unidentified sources, was published Thursday.
"We decisively deny these crude inventions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Gennady Tarasov told a news briefing. "Russia has never made any deals with Iraq that would violate international sanctions, moreover deals involving supplies of banned technologies."
The Post's sources said inspectors seized a confidential document in Iraq late last year. It said the United Nations requested information from Moscow on the matter six weeks ago but had received no reply.
Cohen told CNN he did not have any information to verify or contradict the report. But he said the issue of "dual-use technologies" was one that concerned the United Nations.
Other developments
- Russian ultranationalist leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky flew to Iraq Wednesday with seven members of Russia's parliament. The delegation would be allowed to visit the eight disputed sites, an Iraqi parliamentary official said.
- Defying a ban on pro-Iraq rallies, some 300 Palestinian high school students in the West Bank city of Hebron burned U.S. flags, marched in support of Saddam Hussein and threw stones at Israeli soldiers.
- Chinese Premier Li Peng reaffirmed China's opposition to a military strike against Iraq and called for a negotiated end to the crisis.
- In Amman, Jordan, two trucks carrying nearly $115,000 in supplies donated by U.S. and British humanitarian groups left for Baghdad.
Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty contributed to this report.
Iraq Standoff Main | Latest Stories | Message Board
Related stories:
- Annan makes diplomatic push on Iraq - February 11, 1998
- Iraq again offers limited access to palaces - February 11, 1998
- Families anxious as more U.S. troops head to Gulf - February 11, 1998
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