National News Top weapons inspectors leave Iraq with promise of cooperation

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Chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director Mohamed El Baradei left Baghdad Nov. 20 after securing a pledge of Iraqi cooperation in the disarmament process.

With the two men stressing that Iraq must back up words with deeds when "no notice" inspections start, Baghdad assured them it would meet a Dec. 8 deadline to account for all armament programs as stipulated in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441, which gives inspectors sweeping powers.

Gen. Amer al-Saadi, a top adviser to President Saddam Hussein told reporters Nov. 19, "Yes, within 30 days, as the resolution says, a report from Iraq will be submitted on all the files - nuclear, chemical, biological and missile files."

El Baradei said all Iraqi officials had "committed to provide us with full cooperation and full transparency, and I hope that we will see that next week when we resume our inspections."

However, U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld criticized the United Nations and argued that an increasing number of countries were prepared to support possible military action on Iraq.

He played down a diplomatic rebuke to the White House from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. Annan took issue with U.S. claims that Iraqi anti-aircraft fire directed at U.S. and British warplanes patrolling "no-fly" zones constituted a "material breach" of resolution 1441.

According to the terms of the resolution, which sets tough new conditions for weapons inspections, a "material breach" of the resolution could constitute a legitimate reason for war. "Let me say I don't think the Security Council will say that this is in contravention of the resolution," Annan said.

"I don't know that he necessarily reflects the United Nations," Rumsfeld said of Annan. "The center of gravity is the Security Council." U.S. warplanes bombed Iraqi air defenses Nov. 16 and 17 in response to the missile and anti-aircraft fire.

イラクが決議履行を保証

国連安保理決議に基づき、大量破壊兵器の査察を行なうためイラク入りしていた査察団は、イラク側が決議の履行を保証したと述べた。

Shukan ST: Nov. 29, 2002

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