Iraq Resolution Expected in Weeks

AP ^ | 13th Sept 2002 | DAFNA LINZER

[maquiladora]

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - After a meeting Friday with Secretary of State Colin Powell, the European Union's foreign policy chief said a Security Council resolution on Iraq was expected within weeks.

"I wouldn't say months, but weeks," Javier Solana said when asked about the timing of a resolution which would likely demand that Saddam Hussein allow the return of weapons inspectors.

Asked whether the 15-member EU would support military action in Iraq, Solana said: "We'll face the question when it comes."

[The Vast Right Wing]

So we should expect a resolution before October?

[maquiladora]

I believe it will be passed within 2 weeks.

[ez2muz]

Well before election day?

[paulklenk]

Let's get a decision from the U.N. before all the patriotism of late gets washed away...

[Dog Gone]

No reason to excerpt it! Here's the rest.

Dutch Foreign Minister Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said there was no discussion with Powell about a possible deadline for Iraqi compliance or any consequences that could ensue.

"The EU has a common perception and position of the absolute necessity of bringing the weapons inspectors back into Iraq as soon as possible and without conditions. Let's take these things step-by-step," he said after the meeting with Powell.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the annual U.N. General Assembly debate which opened Thursday with a speech by President Bush who said Saddam Hussein must disarm "or action will be unavoidable."

According to a senior European diplomat who also attended the meeting with Powell Friday, the secretary of state stressed that Bush's speech was not a declaration of war, a welcome assurance for the EU foreign ministers who want the United States to work through the United Nations to resolve the crisis with Iraq.

In their speeches to the General Assembly Friday, both Japan's Junichiro Koizumi and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi also came out in favor of U.N. action on Iraq.

The United States and the United Nations were eager to gauge world reaction to Bush's speech on Iraq.

So far, America's allies have responded positively, but all eyes will be on Russia and China - two veto-wielding countries whose views on Iraq could make or break Security Council support for any U.S. action against Saddam.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said "the Iraqi issue should be resolved within the framework of the United Nations."

"The relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions should be abided by in an earnest manner," Tang said, according to a report by the official Xinhua News Agency.

Diplomats generally agree something must be done with Iraq but Annan said he opposed any pre-emptive action without Security Council backing - a concern expressed by many countries, including close U.S. allies.

Sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait cannot be lifted until U.N. inspectors certify that its weapons of mass destruction have been destroyed. Inspectors left the country four years ago without making that certification and in advance of U.S. and British airstrikes designed to force Iraq to cooperate with the inspections program.

Since then, Iraq has refused to allow inspectors to return and the stalemate has badly split the Security Council several times.

[maquiladora]

Well before election day?

Probably about a month before it.

[demlosers]

So we should expect a resolution before October?

hahahaha...

[maquiladora]

Yeah, but I just wanted to get the main jist of it in.
The significant thing is this; earlier today Bush said he wanted the UN to pass a resolution with "days and weeks", and now it looks very much like he going to get it.

Now, as long as there's no foot-draging on Capitol Hill regarding their vote, then everything should be going sweetly for a Nov/Dec war.

[finnman69]

I love this. This will keep ALL of the news on Iraq and 9/11 for the next two months.

[Rockitz]

IMHO, Saddam will call any UN bluff, allow weapons inspectors once again so that he may further frustrate and delay a US- led miltary action. He's experienced at jerking us around. Count on it.

[The Vast Right Wing]

Apparently you didn't hear the president's speech yesterday. They will pass one more resolution, it may not authorize force per se, and then the next move is up to Saddam. If he blows it, which he will, we will strike.

[Dog Gone]

I love this. This will keep ALL of the news on Iraq and 9/11 for the next two months.

Bingo. It's going to be really difficult for the Dems to switch the nation's attention to handouts they are promising.

[maquiladora]

It could be more than just that, Bush said clearly in the excellent speech yesterday that it wasn't just about weapons inspectors. It was about a total disarming of WMD, an end to the support of terror, an end to the violation of oil trade, the handing over of Gulf War MIA folks and the bodies of those KIA and an end to the punishment of the Iraqi people.

I think the resolution will contain all these demends.

[ASA Vet]

Two questions.

Will the resolution be before our coming victory in Iraq?

Why should we care about resolutions of that irrelevant body?

[maquiladora]

See #15

[Aric2000]

Bush told the UN, either put up or shut up.

Either back your resolutions with action or you become irrelevant. They are starting to figure out what he meant.

We will have a resolution with a deadline and an authorization of force within weeks.

If not, the UN becomes irrelevant and the US does this by ourselves, with some partners. Could be interesting!!

The UN will go the way of the League of Nations, I really do hope they sit on their hands and do nothing. THen we can cut the socialist bastages off at the knees.

[demlosers]

IMHO, Saddam will call any UN bluff, allow weapons inspectors once again so that he may further frustrate and delay a US- led miltary action. He's experienced at jerking us around. Count on it.

Yes, I expect this too by Saddam as a last resort. He's probably getting his distract & harass the weapons inspectors and shell game teams ready as we speak.