Iraq and the U.N. wrapped up two days of talks on February 27th without reaching any conclusions, but have agreed to a further meeting in a few weeks, according to Iraqi Foreign Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf.
No date has been given for the next round of discussions, but Iraqi officials indicated that it would take place after an Arab summit in Jordan on March 27th.
Al-Sahaf said that the Iraqi delegation would “come back with feedback” in an effort to “find a way out, to find a solution.” He added that: “This dialogue is not an end in itself.
We didn’t discuss any proposals. We discussed issues.” U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan addressed the Security Council on February 28th, indicating his hope that the discussions would be able “to move forward.”
But, al-Sahaf continued his criticism of the U.S. and reiterated that Baghdad has complied with all U.N. resolutions and will not allow arms inspectors to return.
He blasted U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, saying that: “We are hearing stupid statements from the foreign minister of the U.S., talking about clever sanctions, as if all of what has been done since 1990 is stupid.”
The Iraqi foreign minister also refused to meet with Hans Blix, the head of the U.N. disarmament agency while in New York. Al-Sahaf said that: “Hans Blix is a detail. We are not dealing with a detail.”
The U.S. and the U.K. are currently reviewing their policies on Iraq, and Powell had said that Washington hoped to shore up support for a modified package of sanctions against Baghdad ahead of the Arab summit at the end of March.
The revised sanctions would ease restrictions on the import of civilian and humanitarian goods into Iraq, but would tighten controls on military equipment and supplies.
Powell also met with foreign ministers from France and the U.K. on February 27th in an attempt at reaching an agreement concerning their positions on Iraq.
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
