Ankara, 2 October 2002 (RFE/RL) -- Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz today said Baghdad remains opposed to any new UN resolution on weapons inspections, and said a U.S. proposal for a new UN resolution is "unacceptable." "This proposal of the United States is unacceptable, not only by Iraq. It is unacceptable by the Security Council because there is no need for a new resolution. The standing resolutions of the Security Council concerning the inspections are valid and they are enough for the perfect performance of the inspectors of their job."
A U.S.-drafted resolution under discussion by the UN Security Council threatens the use of military force if Iraq fails to grant arms inspectors unrestricted access to all Iraqi territory.
Yesterday, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said an agreement has been reached with Iraq for the return of arms inspectors to the country. Iraq said it accepts the resumption of inspections under conditions spelled out in existing UN resolutions, which give inspectors limited access to eight Iraqi presidential sites.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday Washington opposes any resumption of weapons inspections in Iraq until a tough new UN resolution has been approved.
In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry today welcomed Blix's announcement that an agreement has been reached for the return of inspectors to Iraq.
A U.S.-drafted resolution under discussion by the UN Security Council threatens the use of military force if Iraq fails to grant arms inspectors unrestricted access to all Iraqi territory.
Yesterday, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said an agreement has been reached with Iraq for the return of arms inspectors to the country. Iraq said it accepts the resumption of inspections under conditions spelled out in existing UN resolutions, which give inspectors limited access to eight Iraqi presidential sites.
U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said yesterday Washington opposes any resumption of weapons inspections in Iraq until a tough new UN resolution has been approved.
In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry today welcomed Blix's announcement that an agreement has been reached for the return of inspectors to Iraq.