WASHINGTON, Sept 17: The White House on Tuesday rejected Iraq’s offer to allow the unconditional return of UN weapons inspectors saying that it was a tactical move by Saddam Hussein.
In Baghdad, Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz, said the Iraqi offer has removed whatever justification the US administration had for wanting to invade Iraq. He also warned the United States not to use the expected return of UN weapons inspectors as a “pretext” for a hidden agenda.
“All the reasons for an attack have been eliminated,” Tariq Aziz said in Baghdad on Tuesday during the opening of a solidarity conference attended by sympathizers from various parts of the world.
“Yes, we agree on the return of weapons inspectors and we are ready to work with the UN Secretary-General in order to put this (Iraqi) decision into effect,” he added.
But US officials are refusing to accept the Iraqi offer as genuine saying that it’s still not clear whether the Iraqi government would allow the inspectors to visit Saddam’s palaces for evidence that Baghdad has or is trying to develop chemical, biological or nuclear weapons.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that despite the offer, the United States would continue to push for a new UN resolution against Iraq. “One thing I’m absolutely sure about is that we’re going to continue to move forward within the Security Council on a new resolution,” he said.
“And it will have to be a strong resolution, (comprising) conditions that are placed by the United Nations on Iraq and not conditions that Iraq is going to place on the United Nations,” he added.
Dismissing the Iraqi offer as an attempt to delay an expected UN Security Council resolution against Iraq, the White House urged the world body to go ahead with its proceedings.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, “a new, effective UN Security Council resolution that will actually deal with the threat Saddam Hussein poses” was still needed despite the Iraqi offer.
“This is a tactical step by Iraq in hopes of avoiding strong UN Security Council action. As such, it is a tactic that will fail,” McClellan said in a written statement.
The Security Council meets later on Tuesday to address the Iraqi offer. Though quickly dismissed by Washington, Iraq’s decision to allow the un-conditional return of United Nations weapons inspectors was cautiously welcomed bymany around the world on Tuesday.
AFP adds: RUSSIA: “Now our main task is to ensure that the inspectors can get to Iraq as soon as possible and start their work,” Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said.
CHINA: Also welcomed Iraq’s acceptance of renewed inspections. “We hope that Iraq will comprehensively implement the UN resolutions to create the necessary conditions for the orderly and peaceful resolution of the Iraq issue,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said.
BRITAIN: America’s closest ally, questioned Saddam’s motives.
A spokeswoman in Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Downing Street office said Saddam had a history of “playing games” and warned that weapons inspectors must have unrestricted access to all areas “any time, any place, anywhere.”
AUSTRALIA: John Howard, Australian Prime Minister, called Iraq’s move “a cautious first step” but also said Saddam Hussein should not be trusted.
FRANCE: Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, said the five-member UN Security Council “must now hold Saddam Hussein to his word”.
GERMANY: The government hailed the Iraqi move. Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said Baghdad’s decision gave the UN “the opportunity for a political solution.”
JAPAN: Iraq’s letter was “very good” but the international community still needed to see whether Iraq was sincere.
EUROPEAN UNION: The EU’s executive arm hailed Iraq’s offer as long overdue but refused to be drawn on the hostile reaction from Washington and London.
NATO: George Robertson, NATO chief, said the world needed action, not words.
TURKEY: A key US ally welcomed its southern neighbour’s decision as “a step in the right direction.”
JORDAN: Another neighbour, said it was “wise”.
SYRIA: Baghdad had shown “enough flexibility” to avoid military confrontation.
IRAN: It welcomed cooperation between Baghdad and the international community.
MALAYSIA: Iraq should be rewarded with an immediate lifting of crippling UN sanctions imposed after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait.
IAEA: The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was ready to resume inspections in Iraq as early as Wednesday if authorized to do so by the UN Security Council.
