The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
[Main archive index/search] [List information] [Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq Homepage]
Dear all, A BBC article, 'UN says Iraq ready for talks', on http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1801000/1801293.st m erroneously states that Iraq expelled weapons inspectors in November [sic] 1998. This is an untruth that I fear we will see several times in the near future. Below is the letter I sent to newsonline@bbc.co.uk. The article is interesting in itself, and I paste that at the end of the message. Per Klevnas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- Dear Sir or Madam, I have found a factual inaccuracy in one of your news items. The article "UN says Iraq ready for talks" on http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1801000/1801293.st m states: "Iraq has refused to allow weapons inspectors back into the country after it expelled a team of arms monitors in November, 1998." The second part of this sentence is untrue: inspectors were not expelled by Iraq, but unilaterally withdrawn on the orders of the Executive Chairman, Richard Butler, in anticipation of Operation Desert Fox in late 1998. The UN Special Commission carrying out weapons inspections in Iraq (UNSCOM) own website states: "16 Dec 1998 The Special Commission withdraws its staff from Iraq." [1] At the time there was no account of an expulsion of inspectors. For example, Josh Friedman wrote in the New York Times on 17 Dec 1998: "While the 133 [UN humanitarian] workers had been left behind, more than 185 others, most of them arms inspectors, had been evacuated yesterday by air to neighboring Bahrain and by car to Jordan ... Butler abruptly pulled all of his inspectors out of Iraq shortly after handing Annan a report yesterday afternoon on Baghdad's continued failure to cooperate with UNSCOM" [2] There is no reason to state an alternative version of events. In the present climate of tension in relations between Iraq and other countries a truthful account would seem especially important. I look forward to a reply acknowledging this email and the concerns it raises. Yours, Per Klevnas [1] http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/Chronology/chronologyframe.htm [2] HEADLINE: EVACUATION DELAYED FOR 133 UN WORKERS, New York Times, December 17, 1998. By Josh Friedman, staff writer. (Please contact me if you require the text of the full article). The report in question is S/1998/1172, which is available on http://www.un.org/Depts/unscom/s98-1172.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- UN says Iraq ready for talks Iraq has refused to allow weapons inspectors to return Iraq has said it is ready to hold talks with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan without preconditions, the UN says. The offer of a "dialogue" came in a message from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to Mr Annan. It was conveyed by the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa. Mr Annan said he would meet an Iraqi delegation to discuss the issue of UN Security Council resolutions, which may include the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq after a three-year absence. Talks between the UN chief and Iraqi officials broke off a year ago after Baghdad laid down conditions for resuming discussions, including an end to sanctions imposed after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Attack threat The development comes amid mounting speculation that the United States is planning to widen its war against terrorism beyond Afghanistan to include Iraq. Kofi Annan will meet Iraqi officials In his State of the Union address last week, President George W Bush said Iraq was part of an "axis of evil" of countries believed to be developing weapons of mass destruction. Iraq has refused to allow weapons inspectors back into the country after it expelled a team of arms monitors in November, 1998. The former head of the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq (Unscom), Richard Butler, has voiced concern that even if inspectors are allowed back into Iraq they will be prevented from working effectively. The UN said Mr Moussa returned from a visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad last month "with a message from Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, saying the Iraqis were prepared to resume dialogue with the Secretary General, without any preconditions". Sanctions dispute The Arab League chief conveyed the offer during a meeting in New York with Mr Annan on Monday. Mr Annan's office said the secretary general would "check his calendar" to find a convenient date to meet Iraqi representatives. Mr Annan last held talks with Iraqi officials in February last year for the first time in two years, but they did not resume after Saddam Hussein insisted on an end to sanctions as a condition for continuing discussions. The UN Security Council says sanctions can only be lifted after it is satisfied Iraq is no longer seeking to produce chemical, nuclear or biological weapons. -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This is a discussion list run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq For removal from list, email soc-casi-discuss-request@lists.cam.ac.uk CASI's website - www.casi.org.uk - includes an archive of all postings.