WORLDWIDE: IRAQI/UN WEAPONS DEADLOCK SITUATION UPDATE скачать в хорошем качестве

WORLDWIDE: IRAQI/UN WEAPONS DEADLOCK SITUATION UPDATE

(16 Jan 1998) English/Nat More firepower is heading to the Persian Gulf. Britain said on Friday it is sending an aircraft carrier and a smaller warship to join the U-S fleet in putting pressure on Iraq. British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said Saddam Hussein only responds to diplomacy if it's backed by military strength. In the latest round of political power games, Iraq refused to allow inspections by a team led by American Scott Ritter. Concerned about Iraq's willingness to comply with U-N Security Council resolutions on disarmament, the U-N weapons inspections chief Richard Butler, was heading to Baghdad on Friday. On route he stopped in Paris on Friday for talks with France's foreign minister. U-N officials say the French, Russians and Chinese are pressing Butler to meet some Iraqi demands, including adding inspectors from countries other than the U-S and Britain. Butler said a senior French diplomat would be joining his staff in New York as part of efforts to widen the role of other countries in the commission, and he had support from the French government. SOUNDBITE: (English) "So I'll go to Baghdad now, not only strengthened by the very clear decision taken by the Security Council yesterday, but with the clear, strong and expressed support by the government of France." SUPER CAPTION: Richard Butler, Chief U-N Arms Inspector He stressed that the political games had to end. SOUNDBITE: (English) "This isn't a game of muscularity, this is one of the most serious things around, it's called disarmament and it is about weapons of mass destruction. I've been given a very strong decision by the Security Council, which inter alia, among other things says to Iraq, you have to accept whomever we put in inspection teams." SUPER CAPTION: Richard Butler, Chief U-N Arms Inspector U-S Defence Secretary William Cohen on a tour of Asia was asked about developments in Iraq. Cohen said the departure of U-N arms inspectors should not be seen as a victory to Iraq. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Not at all, as a matter of fact the inspection team has been, teams I should say, have been withdrawn in the past and they have gone back in. I think what we have to wait and see is what the result of Mr Butler's trip to Baghdad will produce. But just by virtue of the fact that Scott Ritter and others have removed themselves from Baghdad for the moment, that should not be construed as a victory at all. I think the real question will become what will they face following Mr Butler's visit to Baghdad and what will be the response of the Security Council at that point." SUPER CAPTION: William Cohen, U-S Defence Secretary Iraq began barring the team headed by American Scott Ritter from carrying out inspections on Tuesday. Iraqi officials said the team included too many U-S and British inspectors. Speaking on a trip to Washington, British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said Iraq's refusal to allow Ritter and his team to make inspections was unacceptable. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The world cannot now accept Saddam Hussein deciding who will be the UNSCOM inspectors and where they will carry out the inspections. We are determined to use every diplomatic means to make sure that all conditions on UNSCOM work are lifted." SUPER CAPTION: Robin Cook, British Foreign Secretary In addition to the words of support came tough practical support. Britain said it was sending an aircraft carrier and a smaller warship to the Gulf in response to Iraq's blocking of the weapons inspectors. SOUNDBITE: (English) SUPER CAPTION: Robin Cook, British Foreign Secretary Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...