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Mohammed el Baradei
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BAGHDAD,
November 15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Iraq prepared Friday,
November 15, for the return of weapons inspectors as skeptical officials
in Washington waited to see if Baghdad will meet U.N. disarmament
demands.
Chief
U.N. inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency Director
General Mohammed El-Baradei are due in Baghdad Monday, November 18, with
an advance team of experts to begin the process of implementing a tough
new resolution aimed at ensuring Iraq's (alleged) nuclear, biological
and chemical weapons programs are ended, reported Agence France-Presse
(AFP).
Baghdad
announced Wednesday, November 13, it unconditionally accepted the
resolution, paving the way for the inspectors' return for the first time
in four years.
Iraq
now has until December 8 to give a full accounting of its weapons
programs or face "grave consequences."
Iraq
said it had once more shown goodwill by swallowing the bitter pill of
the U.N. resolution, and called on China, France and Russia to work
towards lifting the international embargo against it.
"By
accepting to deal with Resolution 1441, Iraq has proven its goodwill ...
and confirmed that our country is free of weapons of mass
destruction," wrote the influential Babel newspaper, run by
President Saddam Hussein's elder son.
Baghdad
yielded two days before the deadline laid down by the resolution,
adopted unanimously Friday, November 8, by the 15-member U.N. Security
Council.
U.S.
officials, however, remained skeptical Baghdad would comply.
Washington
and the international community intended to "keep the
pressure" on Baghdad because it is the "only thing Iraqis will
respond to," U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said during a
visit to Canada.
"The
U.S. has demonstrated considerable patience over the last two
months," he said, referring to the protracted negotiations over a
revised U.N. resolution to get inspectors back to Iraq after their
recall four years ago.
"That
patience will continue," Powell said. But, "if the Iraqis do
not cooperate, do not comply, do not work with the inspectors, do not
take this opportunity to get rid of their weapons of mass destruction,
then there will be consequences.
"Those
consequences will involve the use of military force to disarm them, to
changing the regime," he said, repeating that Washington is ready
to lead a coalition to disarm Iraq if the U.N. was unwilling to act.
"He
will be disarmed, one way or the other."
U.S.
allies, for their part, echoed the sentiments.
French
President Jacques Chirac said Iraq must demonstrate complete cooperation
with U.N. demands.
"It
is important now that Iraq adheres strictly to its obligations and
demonstrates its full and entire cooperation with the United
Nations," the French leader said during talks with the visiting
Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Hamdan ben Zayed Al
Nahyan.
"This
is what the international community unanimously expects of it."
In
the official translation of the letter from Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji
Sabri, Iraq confirms that it intends to "deal with" Security
Council Resolution 1441.
"We
hereby inform you that we will deal with Resolution 1441, despite its
iniquitous contents, even though it is to be implemented against the
background of the intentions harbored by those of bad faith," Sabri
said. "Based as this is in an attempt to do our people harm,"
read the letter.
France
and Russia, both veto-wielding permanent members of the council, had
insisted Washington change the draft text of the resolution, dropping
language that it might be interpreted as authorization automatic use of
force against Iraq if U.N. inspections are thwarted.
El-Baradei,
in a speech here to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, laid
out five key factors needed for successful inspections.
These
include: immediate and unfettered access to all locations and sites in
Iraq; ready access to all sources of information; unified and
unequivocal support from the U.N. Security Council; active co-operation
from Iraq; and an inspection process free from outside interference,
El-Baradei said.
And
international oil prices edged higher after plunging to eight-month lows
a day earlier after Iraq bowed to international pressure.
"Nobody
thinks Iraq is going to fully cooperate with the inspectors," said
AG Edwards market analyst Bill O'Grady, who predicted quiet trade until
fresh news emerged from the U.S.-Iraq face-off.
New
York's reference light sweet crude December contract, which tumbled 69
cents the day before, advanced 10 cents to 25.29 dollars.
The
price of benchmark Brent North Sea crude for December delivery rose 11
cents to 22.81 dollars a barrel after tumbling by more than a dollar
Wednesday.
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Iraq:
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- Denial Of Access By Iraq Would Be "Very Serious": Blix
- If Honest, Arms Experts Will Find Iraq Disarmed: Baghdad
- First U.N. Weapons Inspections in Iraq Nov 27: Blix
- Straw Blames British Imperialism for Middle East Woes
- Iraq Ready for Inspectors, Skeptical Washington Waylays
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