The Security Council today was presented with two plans on how to proceed with the disarmament of Iraq, with one calling for bulked up and continued inspections by the United Nations while the other would find that Iraq has failed to take the “final opportunity” afforded to it in resolution 1441. The President of the 15-nation body, Ambassador Gunter Pleuger of Germany, told reporters that during its closed-door consultations, the Council received a “memorandum” from France, Germany and the Russian Federation calling for continued U.N. inspections, as well as a draft resolution co-sponsored by Spain, the United Kingdom and United States that referred to “serious consequences” mentioned in resolution 1441 if Baghdad did not comply.
He said the Council will hold further consultations Thursday on the two documents after delegations have had a chance to consult with their capitals.
He said the Council will hold further consultations Thursday on the two documents after delegations have had a chance to consult with their capitals.
The text introduced by the U.K. would decide that Iraq “has failed to take the final opportunity afforded to it in resolution 1441,” which was adopted unanimously last November acknowledging that Iraq “has been and remains in material breach” of its disarmament obligations and gave the country a last chance to comply.
“There needs to be United Nations action if there is serious doubt about Iraq’s cooperation,” Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom told reporters.
“There needs to be United Nations action if there is serious doubt about Iraq’s cooperation,” Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock of the United Kingdom told reporters.