Posted on 09/11/2002 9:10:08 PM PDT by USA21
Annan Urges No Unilateral Action Against Iraq
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan will tell President Bush on Thursday that only the United Nations can sanction the use of force against Iraq.
Annan, without mentioning possible U.S. plans to attack Iraq, says any country can defend itself when attacked.
"But beyond that, when states decide to use force to deal with broader threats to international peace and security, there is no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the United Nations," he will tell the U.N. General Assembly, according to prepared remarks.
Annan, who also challenges U.S. policy by renewing a call for an international conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, speaks shortly before Bush sets out for the assembly his case for action against Iraq.
Bush is expected to challenge the United Nations to enforce post-Gulf War resolutions demanding Iraq disarm. The United States believes Iraq is developing chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
"I'm going to the United Nations to give this speech for a reason, because I believe this is an international problem, and that we must work together to deal with the problem," Bush said on Tuesday.
A U.N. official said Annan's speech was being released early so it would not be overshadowed by Bush's address. A copy of his remarks was given to U.S. officials.
"The more a country makes use of multilateral institutions -- thereby respecting shared values, and accepting the obligations and restraints inherent in those values -- the more others will trust and respect it, and the stronger its chance to exercise true leadership," Annan says.
He says member states had shown they were willing to take actions under the authority of the U.N. Security Council they would not be willing to take without it.
"Even the most powerful countries know that they need to work with others, in multilateral institutions, to achieve their aims," Annan says in a carefully crafted speech.
Many European, Arab and other nations have voiced dismay at a U.S. drive to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and halt his alleged attempts to acquire weapons of mass destruction -- with or without approval by the U.N. Security Council.
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Annan himself said this month it would be "unwise to attack Iraq" and that it would raise international tensions.
IRAQI DEFIANCE
Annan will tell the General Assembly that Iraq is defying Security Council resolutions, saying the return of U.N. arms inspectors is the "indispensable first step" to assuring the world that Iraq's deadly weapons have been scrapped and toward the suspension and eventual ending of U.N. sanctions.
"If Iraq's defiance continues, the Security Council must face its responsibilities," Annan declares, in a formula that clearly does not rule out U.N.-authorized military action such as that mounted by the U.S.-led coalition that drove Iraqi occupation troops from Kuwait in the 1991 Gulf War.
The Bush administration worked closely with the United Nations to get support for a struggle against terrorism after last year's Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
But on other issues it has irritated many of its European and other allies by spurning global initiatives such as the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gases and treaties against biological weapons, nuclear testing and land mines.
It has fiercely opposed the new International Criminal Court, sided with conservative Islamic states on women's health issues and cut off funds to the U.N. Population Fund.
The United States continues to accrue new debts to the world body and is now $1.2 billion in arrears for dues and peacekeeping expenses, despite an agreement in December 2000 from U.N. members to reduce the American contribution.
MIDDLE EAST CONFERENCE
Annan will call for an international conference "without delay" to seek a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict, saying Israel and the Palestinians accept the vision of a two-state solution and an end to terror and to occupation.
"We can reach it only if we move rapidly and in parallel on all fronts," Annan says.
The United States has stopped advocating an international conference that it had proposed, and in a June 24 speech, Bush laid the onus on the Palestinians to change their leadership and halt violence before political progress could be achieved.
On Afghanistan, Annan says President Hamid Karzai's government needs help to extend its authority throughout the country and that donors must honor their aid pledges.
"Otherwise the Afghan people will lose hope -- and desperation, we know, breeds violence," the secretary-general adds.
Let me give him a clue: How many divisions and squadrons do you have to stop us, Kofi?
w#ssies
BZZZZZTTT!! Wrong answer - thanks for playing. We've got some wonderful parting gifts back stage for you. Buh-bye...
"But beyond that, when states decide to use force to deal with broader threats to international peace and security, there is no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the United Nations,"
I honestly don't know how the world got along for the 4,000 years of recorded history before we had the UN to say what fights were allowed </sarcasm>.
"Even the most powerful countries know that they need to work with others, in multilateral institutions, to achieve their aims."
It's called bilateral and multilateral diplomacy; something that existed LONG before the UN, and something that will exist long AFTER the UN.
And... That's a bad thing?
When the UN can guarentee the safety of the Untied States then we will listen, until then "BITE ME"
In what country is the UN housed (though not for much longer)?
| Annan will call for an international conference "without delay" to seek a comprehensive settlement of the Middle East conflict
The UN has had at least 40 years to "seek a comprehensive settlement" of the Middle East conflict. What, now they gotta do it next week? Feh. |
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Reminds me of the day that Newt Gingrich took over as Speaker of the House. The Pubbies were ramming through one thing after another. Every time a Democrat stood up to offer an amendment, somebody would say, "You had forty years to do that."