S P E C I A L:

Inspecting Iraq

Annan: U.S. must consult U.N. before attacking Iraq

Annan

March 8, 1998
Web posted at: 4:50 p.m. EST (2150 GMT)

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The United States does not have the authority to automatically launch a strike on Iraq if Baghdad does not comply with the latest agreement on weapons inspections, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Sunday.

"The Russians, the French and (the) Chinese ... resisted this idea of automaticity. And therefore, if the United States had to strike, I think some sort of consultations with the other members would be required," Annan said on ABC's "This Week."

The secretary-general's comment is at odds with the Clinton administration's view that it would not need further permission to launch a military strike on Iraq if a weapons inspection deal reached last month is breached.

Annan says he thinks the Security Council would be more willing to use military force if Iraq breaks its U.N. deal
	335 K / 30 sec. AIFF or WAV sound

On Tuesday, U.S. President Bill Clinton said the meaning of the phrase "severest consequences," contained in a U.N. Security Council resolution approving the deal, "is clear."

"It provides authority to act if Iraq does not turn the commitment it has now made into compliance," Clinton said.

Annan: Strike approval 'easier' if deal breached

Despite his differing interpretation, Annan indicated that other members of the Security Council might be more amenable to military action if Iraq does not follow through with its promises to allow inspections of so-called sensitive and presidential sites.

"If Iraq were to break the agreement, it would be much easier to get an agreement in the council to take military action," Annan said.

Noting that the United States entered into extensive consultations while considering a military strike on Iraq last month, Annan said, "I suspect, whatever happens in the future, that kind of consultation will take place."

Richard Butler, chief U.N. weapons inspector

Iraq hits U.S. for opposing Russian deputy

Meanwhile, in Baghdad on Sunday, a statement carried by Iraq's official news agency criticized the United States for opposing the appointment of a Russian as deputy chief of U.N. weapons inspectors.

Russia asked for that appointment last week. But the American U.N. ambassador, Bill Richardson, told CNBC Friday that "we are not very crazy" about the idea.

Iraq's response came in a statement, attributed to the political editor of state-run Radio Baghdad, which said that the U.S. position proved that the United States seeks to dominate the weapons inspection process.

The statement accused the United States of "insisting on keeping the imbalanced composition" of the inspection teams and using the process "as a tool to serve their political and espionage activities."

Russia has been sympathetic to Iraq's demands for the end of economic sanctions, which were imposed after Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, sparking the Persian Gulf War.

U.S. officials are reluctant to put a Russian in a senior role in the inspection process because the teams must determine when Iraq has destroyed all of its weapons of mass destruction, a condition for lifting the sanctions.

In his interview on "This Week," Annan also said that he thought the Security Council should consider Russia's request.

In the first test of the new agreement, U.N. inspectors led by American Scott Ritter visited six "sensitive" sites in Iraq Friday and Saturday, according to U.N. spokesman Alan Dacey. He said the teams "received the full cooperation of the Iraqi authorities."

Reuters contributed to this report.

Newsmaker profiles:

• Kofi Annan - U.N. Secretary General
• Saddam Hussein - Iraqi President

Related stories:

• Iraqi inspections proceed in 'normal' manner - March 7, 1998
• Ritter back at work in Baghdad - March 6, 1998
• Ritter-led inspectors return to Iraq - March 5, 1998
• Sources: No Brits, Americans to be on diplomatic team in Iraq - March 4, 1998

---

 

---

Sound off on our message boards & chat

© 1998 Cable News Network, Inc.
A Time Warner Company
All Rights Reserved.

Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.