Under pressure from Arab state to allow U.N. weapons inspectors back, Iraq's foreign minister said late Saturday he hoped the crisis could be resolved without a new U.N. resolution.
Naji Sabri's arrival in New York on Friday for the U.N. General Assembly annual debate set off meetings between Arab ministers and Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a bid to head off a U.S.-led war against Iraq.
According to AP, diplomatic sources said Arab ministers were pressuring Sabri to act quickly and allow inspectors back under existing council resolutions which have no deadline — and do not threaten force.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher also raised the prospect of an end to the crisis without the need for a new resolution. "There may come a situation where a resolution is not necessary any more," Maher said. "We are discussing the way to overcome the present difficulties. If we do, then I suppose there won't be need for a resolution."
Maher said he could detect "signs of flexibility" in Iraq's position. Arab nations want to solve the Iraq crisis peacefully and there is "a sense of urgency," but he cautioned "it's not a matter that can be solved in one evening or one day."
Arab League ministers said Sabri told them Saturday that Iraq was ready to let the inspectors return but not before certain conditions were met. Saturday's diplomacy started with Arab League nations appealing to Iraq to heed international calls to allow inspectors back and avert a confrontation with the United States.
Annan told the Arab ministers to push Iraq to let inspectors back to avert war. "We meet at a critical time as governments are discussing war and peace," Annan said. "Every effort must be made to avoid another conflict."
Meanwhile, Israeli security officials assessed that the U.S. attack on Iraq has been brought forward and will start before November, Israel Radio reported Saturday. The officials told the radio that Israel is ready for any event, and that if Saddam Hussein will feel that he is losing the campaign, he will attack Israel.
Reports from the United States indicated that U.S. and British special forces were already in western Iraq to prevent Saddam deploying Scud missile launchers for an attack on Israel, The Sunday Telegraph reported Sunday.(Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
