SECRETARY-GENERAL TO INFORM SECURITY COUNCIL OF NATURE AND OUTCOME OF HIS INITIATIVE ON IRAQ

Press Release
SG/SM/6388
IK/230

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO INFORM SECURITY COUNCIL OF NATURE AND OUTCOME OF HIS INITIATIVE ON IRAQ

The following statement was issued today by Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

As you know, I acted last week in support of the Security Council to attempt to resolve the stalemate on Iraq by sending a special mission to that country. My envoys, Lakhdar Brahimi, Emilio Cardenas and Jan Eliasson, have returned to New York after two days of consultations in Baghdad. They briefed me last night about the position of the Government of Iraq. Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz came today to see me and reiterated this position, raising a number of grievances. I underscored the message my envoys had taken to Baghdad, stressing that all that was required was for Iraq to undertake to comply fully with its obligations under all relevant Security Council resolutions. Once that was done, I would expect that the Security Council, in turn, would be prepared to listen to the concerns of the Government of Iraq.

I will inform the Security Council this afternoon of the nature and outcome of my initiative. My envoys will accompany me to the Council. I regret that the Government of Iraq has not yet seen its way to ending this unfortunate situation by complying with the requirements of the Council.

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