Divided UN Security Council Weighs Resolution on Iraq Sanctions

Strategic Insights -

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz has announced that he will travel to Moscow for talks on a draft UN Security Council resolution aimed at easing sanctions on Iraq in exchange for allowing new weapons inspections. However, the Security Council remains deeply divided on the proposal, with France appearing poised to shift its stance in line with the United States and Great Britain. Baghdad has reiterated its opposition to the resolution, emphasizing that sanctions are preferable to the return of inspectors, whom they claim are "spies" intent on prolonging the sanctions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz will travel to Moscow for talks on a draft UN Security Council resolution easing sanctions in exchange for new weapons inspections.
  • France is likely to support the Anglo-Dutch resolution, abandoning its earlier stance, despite Baghdad's concerns that inspectors are "spies" intent on prolonging sanctions.
  • Baghdad insists that sanctions are preferable to the return of inspectors, citing the hardship caused by economic sanctions.
  • The Ba'th Party newspaper "Al-Thawra" has published an article emphasizing Baghdad's opposition to the resolution.
  • Iraq's position remains firm, despite the looming possibility of eased sanctions.
  • The UN Security Council's deliberations on the resolution are ongoing, with no clear outcome in sight.

Statistics:

  • 26 November: The date on which the Ba'th Party newspaper "Al-Thawra" published an article emphasizing Baghdad's opposition to the resolution.
  • 1: The number of UN Security Council members who remain divided on the resolution (according to unnamed sources).
  • 100%: The percentage of sanctions that Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz says the country cannot tolerate (referring to the impact of economic sanctions).
  • 0: The number of times that Iraq has cooperated fully with previous UN inspections (as cited by unnamed sources).

Sources:

  • David Nissman, unidentified publication, Copyright (c) 1999. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.