-Caveat Lector-
From
http://www.nando.net/world/v-text/story/279123p-2524717c.html?printer
}}}>Begin
Ambassador says Iraq is not hiding weapons
Copyright © 2002 AP Online
E-mail this story
By EDITH M. LEDERER, Associated Press
UNITED NATIONS (March 2, 2002 9:16 a.m. EST) - An invitation for British
inspectors to search for banned weapons will show the world that Saddam Hussein's
government is not hiding nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, Iraq's U.N.
ambassador said.
Ambassador Mohammad Al-Douri said late Friday the government issued the
invitation because Britain is "one of two permanent members of the Security Council
who accused Iraq of having these weapons of mass destruction." The other is the
United States.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair has claimed to have evidence that Iraq has such
weapons, but Iraq believes he "cannot present any evidence," Al-Douri said.
Iraq's offer to Britain was first reported in Friday's official al-Thawra newspaper. It
quoted an unidentified official spokesman as saying Iraq was challenging Britain to
prove it is developing weapons of mass destruction.
"This is, I think, a very good gesture, a very positive gesture from Iraq," Al-Douri
said.
"We are confident that what we are saying to the international community - that Iraq
is clean from any kind of weapon of mass destruction - is true."
The surprise invitation came days before U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan
scheduled March 7 meeting with Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri to discuss the
return of weapons inspectors to Baghdad and Iraq's demand for lifting sanctions
imposed after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
Under Security Council resolutions, sanctions cannot be lifted until inspectors
determine that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction have been dismantled.
But inspectors left Baghdad in December 1998, ahead of U.S. and British air strikes
punishing Iraq for not cooperating with the inspections program, and Saddam's
government barred them from returning.
Al-Douri said the Iraqi government was not inviting the new U.N. weapons inspection
agency or its chief inspector, Hans Blix, to visit Baghdad because of Iraq's
experience with the previous inspection agency, which it accused of being
compromised by spies.
That position could complicate Sabri's talks with Annan.
Another complicating factor is the growing speculation that Iraq may become a target
of U.S. military action, especially after President Bush called it part of an "axis of
evil"
with Iran and North Korea.
He warned Baghdad to let inspectors in or face consequences.
Iraqis "do not belong to an axis of evil," Al-Douri said. "I think America is the evil
of
our world today, not Iraq. We have no army abroad. The United States has armies
over the whole world."
Al-Douri said he doesn't believe the United States wants to see Iraq and the United
Nations find a solution leading to the lifting of sanctions.
Next week's meeting will be followed by another in April.
"We are always optimistic," Al-Douri said of the possibility of ending the standoff
over
sanctions and inspections.
Front Page | Top Story | Nation | World | Sports | Business | Technology | Health &
Science | Entertainment | Politics | Opinions | Photos | Weather | SportServer | Stock
Server | Classifieds
Copyright © 2001 Nando Media
Do you have some feedback for the Nando Times staff?
-->
End<{{{~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Forwarded as information only; no endorsement to be presumed
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material
is distributed without charge or profit to those who have
expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information
for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking
new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe
simply because it has been handed down for many generations. Do not
believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do
not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not
believe in anything merely on the authority of Teachers, elders or wise men.
Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it
agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all.
Then accept it and live up to it."
The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutta
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
A merely fallen enemy may rise again, but the reconciled
one is truly vanquished. -Johann Christoph Schiller,
German Writer (1759-1805)
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
It is preoccupation with possessions, more than anything else, that
prevents us from living freely and nobly. -Bertrand Russell
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Everyone has the right...to seek, receive and impart
information and ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will
teach you to keep your mouth shut."
--- Ernest Hemingway
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
