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United Nations

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan Hopes to Break Iraq Impasse Over Weapons Inspection

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the international community waits with bated breath for a resolution to the long-standing issue of Iraq's weapons inspection, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed optimism that upcoming talks with Iraqi officials will lead to a breakthrough. Annan emphasized that the impasse has been a persistent challenge for the UN, lasting for over a decade and outlasting two of his predecessors. He revealed plans to begin talks with Iraqi officials in New York at the start of the new year, following the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The issue of Iraq's weapons inspection has been a challenge for the UN for over 10 years, outlasting two previous UN Secretaries-General.
  • Annan expressed hope that upcoming talks with Iraqi officials will break the impasse and find a solution to the issue.
  • The talks are planned to take place in New York at the start of the new year, after the end of the Ramadan holy month.
  • UN weapons inspectors have been absent from Iraq since December 1998, when the US and Britain launched military strikes against the country.
  • Iraq has reiterated that lifting sanctions is a precondition for the UN arms inspectors to return to the country.
  • Annan acknowledged that public sentiment regarding sanctions is increasingly critical, with some aspects of the sanctions "fraying at the edges".

Statistics:

  • The UN has been dealing with the issue of Iraq's weapons inspection for over 10 years.
  • UN weapons inspectors have been absent from Iraq since December 1998.
  • The upcoming talks between Annan and Iraqi officials are planned to take place in New York at the start of the new year.
  • The Muslim holy month of Ramadan is expected to end before the talks commence.

Sources:

  • XINHUA U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday hopes that upcoming talks between the U.N. and Iraqi officials will break the impasse over weapons inspection in the country.
  • Copyright XINHUA NEWS AGENCY
  • News Provided by COMTEX (http://www.comtexnews.com)

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