By Marty Logan
UNITED NATIONS, Sep 14 2002 (IPS)

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan met twice with foreign ministers of Arab states on Saturday hoping to get their support for the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq.

Resumption of inspections was one of several conditions listed by U.S. President George W. Bush in his speech to the U.N. General Assembly this week.

Bush said he would initially work through the U.N.’s high-ranking Security Council to press Iraq to meet the demands but hinted strongly that the United States is prepared to attack the country if the world body cannot force Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to comply.

Since then, world leaders addressing the annual U.N. General Assembly have largely urged Bush to be patient with the Security Council.

Following an afternoon meeting with the foreign ministers, including Iraq’s Naji Sabril, Annan’s office released a brief statement, saying the U.N. chief convened the ministers “to enlist their support for the return of U..N. weapons inspectors to Iraq, and thus to strengthen the efforts to restore peace and stability to the region”.

Earlier Saturday, the foreign minister of Oman, Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, focused on Iraq’s efforts to meet the numerous conditions laid down in Security Council resolutions after the country invaded Kuwait in 1990, sparking the Gulf War.

“My government welcomes the Iraqi initiative to return the Kuwaiti national archives and encourages the Iraqi government to (continue) a constructive dialogue and serious consultations to fulfil its remaining commitments,” Alawi said, citing specifically those related to prisoners of war and missing citizens from Kuwait and third countries.

Because of those efforts, he added, the world community should keep working with Iraq.

Alawi said his government believes that the Iraqi problem cannot be resolved “without continuous diplomatic efforts exerted by all, and through United Nations channels and any other possible and supporting political ways.”

“We find no justification for any military operation against Iraq,” the Oman official stated.

Finland’s foreign minister warned that a U.S. attack could enflame the volatile situation between Palestine and Israel.

“Without progress in the Middle East peace process, any military action in the region can have extremely dangerous and unforeseen consequences,” said Erkki Tuomioja. “It is imperative that efforts to get Iraq to abide unconditionally with all the resolutions of the Security Council remain the responsibility of the United Nations.”

Cuba’s representative went much further, blaming the U.S. ‘war on terror’ for “greater feelings of hatred, vengeance and insecurity, not helpful in the fight against terrorism.”

“Dangerous xenophobic and discriminatory tendencies threaten the existence of a plural and democratic world. There has been a step backward in the field of public freedoms and civil rights,” said Foreign Affairs Minister Felipe Pérez Roque.

“Cuba defends principles and not vested interests,” continued Roque. “Therefore, although its supporters may feel upset, it emphatically opposes this war. Cuba is not driven by an anti-American spirit, even when its government maintains and strengthens a 40-year-old blockade against our people.”

Only Great Britain on Saturday pushed the General Assembly to follow Bush’s advice.

“We have to be resolute in the face of Iraq’s defiance and secure the will of the United Nations,” Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Jack Straw, told the General Assembly.

“We must require Iraq to re-admit inspectors with unfettered access. We have not just an interest but also a responsibility to ensure that Iraq complies fully with international law. We have to be clear to Iraq and to ourselves about the consequences, which will flow from a failure by Iraq to meet its obligations.”

“All of us who believe in the United Nations have to make our minds up now about how to deal with Iraq. For the authority of the United Nations itself is at stake,” added Straw.

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