- WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Clinton underscored a stern warning sent
to Iraq by a unanimous U.N. Security Council on Monday, urging Iraq to
allow U.N. weapons inspectors to do their work or face ``severest consequences.''
``Tonight's unanimous vote by the United Nations Security Council sends
the clearest possible message: Iraq must make good on its commitment to
give the international weapons inspectors immediate, unconditional and
unrestricted access to any suspect site, any place, anytime,'' Clinton
said in a statement read by a White House spokeswoman. ``All of the members
of the council agree that failure to do so will result in the severest
consequences for Iraq,'' Clinton said in the statement.
And although he stopped short of spelling out exactly what those consequences
would be, U.S. officials have indicated they still reserve the right to
use force if Iraq doesn't comply. The statement, issued shortly after the
vote to warn Iraq of ``severest consequences'' if it again barred inspectors
from any suspected arms sites, came even as Washington continued to prepare
for the possible use of military force against Iraq. State Department officials
met ambassadors of more than 30 countries that have promised to provide
troops or other support to a military coalition if Washington decides to
use force against Baghdad, U.S. officials said. They met to discuss continued
preparations for possible military force should Iraq fail to comply, officials
said. But the 15-member body came close to barring any use of force.
Most members, including France, Russia, China, Brazil, Sweden, Costa Rica,
Kenya, Gambia and Gabon said that the resolution did not authorize military
action. The United States has said it has the right to use force against
Iraq if it barred arms inspectors again. But it was clear from the council
debates that there would be little international support for this position
at this time. Clinton said inspectors would resume their work and the onus
was now on Iraq to comply. |
``Iraq now has the responsibility to turn the commitment it has made into
full compliance,'' he concluded. The Security Council, in its vote late
on Monday, also endorsed the agreement that Secretary-General Kofi Annan
signed in Baghdad a week ago that gives the inspectors access to so-called
``presidential sites'' under special procedures. Thomas Pickering, Under
Secretary of State for Political Affairs, and Eric Newsom, Acting Assistant
Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, ``emphasized the importance
of continued coalition preparations'' in their meeting with the allies,
the State Department said. It said the United States hoped the agreement
negotiated with Baghdad last month by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
would provide access to all suspected sites where weapons of mass destruction
may be hidden.
``But as recent events have made clear, it is necessary that the international
community remain prepared to act forcefully if Baghdad fails to comply
with its commitments and obligations,'' it added in a statement. Annan
agreed with Iraq that so-called ``presidential'' and other sites that Baghdad
had declared off-limits would be open to inspectors of the United Nations
Special Commission (UNSCOM) in charge of destroying Iraq's weapons of mass
destruction. The agreement led the United States to put on hold plans to
launch air strikes on Iraq, but Washington has voiced skepticism that President
Saddam Hussein will honor the deal. U.S. officials refused to list all
the countries represented at Monday's meeting. Britain has been Washington's
leading supporter but other NATO nations, Australia, Argentina and some
East European states have also promised help.
The pledges of help have ranged from Britain's commitment of significant
combat forces to minor logistical assistance. State Department spokesman
James Rubin said Washington hoped the resolution would send ``a strong
signal to Iraq.'' ``We have made clear what those consequences would be,
and we have also made clear that we don't see the need to return to the
Security Council,'' Rubin told a news briefing. ``And we also have very
clear assurances from key governments that they would understand and be
more supportive of that decision if it comes to that.'' Possible action
against Iraq will come up during a six-day tour that Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright plans to start on Thursday. Among countries she will
visit are key allies Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada. ``I would
fully expect them to go over the Iraq issue in great detail and plan for
possible contingencies if past is prologue and Iraq does violate the agreement,''
he said. Rubin dismissed suggestions Sunday by Iraq's U.N. envoy, Nizar
Hamdoon, that diplomats appointed by Annan and not UNSCOM would be in charge
of inspections at the presidential sites -- a view contested by UNSCOM
chief Richard Butler. ``The simple answer is Ambassador Hamdoon was wrong,
Chairman Butler was right,'' he said.
|