10/5/2002
UN-Iraq 'Useful And Frank' Talks Plan Next Round Within One Month

Following three days of talks between senior United Nations and Iraqi officials on returning weapons inspectors to the country, UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan has reported that the discussions had been "useful and frank" and predicted that a new round could be held within a month, according to a UN statement.

After briefing the Security Council behind closed doors, Mr. Annan noted that for the first time since UN inspectors had left Iraq in December 1998, the Baghdad delegation had included experts in the disarmament area. "Interestingly enough I think Dr. Mohammed ElBaradei [the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)] and Dr. [Hans] Blix [the Executive Chairman of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)] knew most of them, and they were able to get clarifications and discuss the future and where we go from here," he said.

The Secretary-General recalled that technical discussions between the UN experts and the Iraqi team continued on 2 May while he was in Washington D.C. He commented, "we did move forward and they are going back to report to their principals, and we will have another meeting where I hope they will come back with further progress and constructive proposals."

Asked when the next round would be held, Mr. Annan predicted that it would take place within a month, explaining, "I don't want to drag this thing out." He added that the meeting could be convened in New York "or elsewhere."

The Iraqi delegates "have questions which they would want to get some answers to which I've raised with the Council," the Secretary-General said. "Of course the issue of the no-fly zone is of concern to them and also the discussions about regime change and the impact this is likely to have." The answers to those questions, he stressed, "have to come from the Council or specific Council members."

The Secretary-General also said the Iraqi team, which was led by the country's Foreign Minister, Naji Sabri, had confirmed that Baghdad was ready to return the Kuwaiti National Archives. That position had earlier been reported to Mr. Annan by Amre Moussa, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States.

Noting that the delegation had indicated that Baghdad would want to work with the UN to transfer the assets back to Kuwait, Mr. Annan said, "I would of course want to talk with the Kuwaitis about this, but if it does happen and the archives are transferred to Kuwait, it would be a positive development and I hope it would also help improve relations in the region."

Asked about a time-limit on the work of UNMOVIC, Mr. Blix said, "I have advised the Security Council that if Iraq will provide co-operation in all respects, if they follow the resolution, and if they make the progress that is required under the resolution, then one could come to a result within a time span of a year."

Mr. ElBaradei, responding to a similar question, recalled that in 1998, the IAEA had reported that Iraq's nuclear programme had been neutralised. If inspectors returned, their major task would be to make sure that the situation had not changed in any material way, he said. "If we get full co-operation, we should be able to move towards the suspension of sanctions foreseen under 1284 in a matter under a year's time."