Pete
8th March 2003, 15:12
Saturday March 8, 12:44 AM
Blix welcomes Iraqi cooperation
Photo: AFP
Click to enlarge
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix said Iraq has speeded up cooperation with his disarmament teams, but with a huge US force ready for war, called for a "sober judgment" of the value of its action.
Blix delivered his latest report on Iraqi disarmament to a crucial meeting of the divided United Nations Security Council, ahead of a vote expected next week on a new resolution put by United States, Britain and Spain which could trigger hostilities.
He said a full UN verification of Iraq's arms would take months, not years.
But his testimony was likely to do little to ease Council splits over whether to authorize war to disarm Saddam Hussein, as each side was sure to interpret the report differently.
The United States and Britain argue that Iraq has shown no willingness to meet the requirements for immediate and full disarmament contained in resolution 1441, and were expected to highlight areas where Baghdad is not in full compliance.
France, Russia and China argue that the time has not yet come for war, and that inspections, while not perfect, are showing progress and should continue.
UN atomic energy chief Mohamed ElBaradei said inspections had turned up no sign of prohibited nuclear activity at any inspected site in Iraq.
Blix told the council that the "acceleration of activities" by Baghdad since the end of January was a positive development, although it would have to be measured against unresolved disarmament questions.
He denied that there was any proof of US claims that Iraq had been concealing banned weapons in mobile laboratories to escape detection.
"Several inspections have taken place ... in relation to mobile production facilities," Blix told the meeting, which was to be followed by a debate among foreign ministers and ambassadors. "No evidence of proscribed activities has so far been found."
Blix said his inspectors had looked into several mobile facilities as well as "large containers with seed-processing equipment."
He also said that there was no evidence of underground chemical or biological production or storage facilities in Iraq.
And Iraq's decision to embark on a program to destroy banned Al-Samoud 2 missiles was a substantial disarmament measure, Blix said.
ElBaradei said that inspectors had found "no indication of nuclear-related prohibited activities at any inspected site," and no sign that Baghdad had imported any uranium since 1990, ElBaradei told the UN Security Council
He also said that allegations Iraq had tried to acquire uranium from the African nation of Niger were false.
The testimony was to be followed by public statements by foreign ministers and ambassadors to the chamber, and a behind closed doors session later on Friday.
President George W. Bush late Thursday accused Iraq of making a "charade" of the inspections process and warned that he would push a new US-British resolution to a vote, to make Security Council members stand up for their position.
"It's time for people to show their cards," he said.
A senior French diplomat earlier insisted that the United States and Britain were still in the minority at the UN Security Council over Iraq, and that it would not take part in any military action against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein not backed by the UN.
"None of our colleagues (on the Security Council) has decided to rally to a proposition that is part of a war logic," the senior diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The diplomat insisted that the new resolution on Iraq is "not likely to get a majority" on the Security Council.
US officials have said the United States will soon press for a vote on the resolution, but Britain and the United States have said they are willing to change the draft.
SOURCE (http://asia.news.yahoo.com/030307/afp/030307164415top.html)
Can't say I'm happy that Saddam gets to stay for longer, but I am happy that America will not be able to have any moral grounds (which they require) to spread their imperial control
Blix welcomes Iraqi cooperation
Photo: AFP
Click to enlarge
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Chief UN arms inspector Hans Blix said Iraq has speeded up cooperation with his disarmament teams, but with a huge US force ready for war, called for a "sober judgment" of the value of its action.
Blix delivered his latest report on Iraqi disarmament to a crucial meeting of the divided United Nations Security Council, ahead of a vote expected next week on a new resolution put by United States, Britain and Spain which could trigger hostilities.
He said a full UN verification of Iraq's arms would take months, not years.
But his testimony was likely to do little to ease Council splits over whether to authorize war to disarm Saddam Hussein, as each side was sure to interpret the report differently.
The United States and Britain argue that Iraq has shown no willingness to meet the requirements for immediate and full disarmament contained in resolution 1441, and were expected to highlight areas where Baghdad is not in full compliance.
France, Russia and China argue that the time has not yet come for war, and that inspections, while not perfect, are showing progress and should continue.
UN atomic energy chief Mohamed ElBaradei said inspections had turned up no sign of prohibited nuclear activity at any inspected site in Iraq.
Blix told the council that the "acceleration of activities" by Baghdad since the end of January was a positive development, although it would have to be measured against unresolved disarmament questions.
He denied that there was any proof of US claims that Iraq had been concealing banned weapons in mobile laboratories to escape detection.
"Several inspections have taken place ... in relation to mobile production facilities," Blix told the meeting, which was to be followed by a debate among foreign ministers and ambassadors. "No evidence of proscribed activities has so far been found."
Blix said his inspectors had looked into several mobile facilities as well as "large containers with seed-processing equipment."
He also said that there was no evidence of underground chemical or biological production or storage facilities in Iraq.
And Iraq's decision to embark on a program to destroy banned Al-Samoud 2 missiles was a substantial disarmament measure, Blix said.
ElBaradei said that inspectors had found "no indication of nuclear-related prohibited activities at any inspected site," and no sign that Baghdad had imported any uranium since 1990, ElBaradei told the UN Security Council
He also said that allegations Iraq had tried to acquire uranium from the African nation of Niger were false.
The testimony was to be followed by public statements by foreign ministers and ambassadors to the chamber, and a behind closed doors session later on Friday.
President George W. Bush late Thursday accused Iraq of making a "charade" of the inspections process and warned that he would push a new US-British resolution to a vote, to make Security Council members stand up for their position.
"It's time for people to show their cards," he said.
A senior French diplomat earlier insisted that the United States and Britain were still in the minority at the UN Security Council over Iraq, and that it would not take part in any military action against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein not backed by the UN.
"None of our colleagues (on the Security Council) has decided to rally to a proposition that is part of a war logic," the senior diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.
The diplomat insisted that the new resolution on Iraq is "not likely to get a majority" on the Security Council.
US officials have said the United States will soon press for a vote on the resolution, but Britain and the United States have said they are willing to change the draft.
SOURCE (http://asia.news.yahoo.com/030307/afp/030307164415top.html)
Can't say I'm happy that Saddam gets to stay for longer, but I am happy that America will not be able to have any moral grounds (which they require) to spread their imperial control