August 25, 2000
Iraq says it will not accept the new United Nations arms inspection team established under a Security Council resolution last December.
"Clearly speaking Iraq does not deal with resolution 1284," Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz told reporters and members of Parliament. "Hans Blix and his Commission is a result of this resolution which Iraq does not deal with."
"When Iraq does not deal with the resolution and its results this means that Iraq will not receive any person who has a relation with the resolution and its results." Security Council resolution 1284 adopted in December offers to ease longstanding trade sanctions on Iraq if it allows UN weapons inspectors empowered to dismantle Iraq's weapons of mass destruction to return to Baghdad.
The resolution set up a new arms inspection body called the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission to replace the former UN Special Commission. Aziz said on Wednesday that Iraq could not be intimidated on the issue. "We are accustomed to threats and Iraq is ready to face all challenges in defense of its sovereignty and legitimate rights," he said.
In Washington, a senior State Department official said Iraq was free to reject the new inspection system but would then have to live with the continuation of sanctions. "If Iraq wants to take this opportunity, then it can. If not, they will be stuck in the same situation they are in now," said the official, who asked not to be named.
He said that since Iraq receives food and medicines through the UN food-for-oil program, and since no one is thinking of resuming arms sales to Iraq, Iraqi compliance with the system would give it access mainly to dual-use goods - goods which have both civilian and military applications.
