SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS DISCUSSIONS ON INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ REVEAL COMMON GROUND

Press Release
SG/SM/6465
IK/240

SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS DISCUSSIONS ON INSPECTIONS IN IRAQ REVEAL COMMON GROUND

Following is the text of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's statement made today to correspondents and his response to their questions concerning Iraq:

"I met this afternoon with Permanent Representatives of the permanent members of the Security Council to resume the discussions we began on Wednesday on ways of resolving the current crisis relating to United Nations inspections in Iraq.

"We reaffirmed the basic principles at stake, including the need to implement the resolutions of the Security Council fully and without conditions.

"The meeting focused on the issue of the so-called `Presidential sites and palaces', in particular on the need to define them and the possible exploration of modalities to inspect them. Large areas of common ground emerged, but discussions will continue and we will meet again later during this long weekend, specifically on Monday at 4 p.m.

"I also informed the Permanent Representatives of my decision to send a technical team to Baghdad this weekend to work with Iraq to map the Presidential sites urgently. I expect them to conclude this task within three or four days.

"The participants in the meeting expressed full confidence in the UNSCOM [United Nations Special Commission] and its work, which is continuing elsewhere in Iraq and which must continue unimpeded."

QUESTION: What were the areas of agreement reached by the permanent Council members?

- 2 - Press Release SG/SM/6465 IK/240 13 February 1998

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL: I don't think I would want to get into that, but take my word, we had broad areas of agreement. And I think you would understand why I cannot go into details at this stage.

QUESTION: Were you any closer now to being able to say that you would be going to Baghdad?

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL: I think I have made it quite clear that I am prepared to go to Baghdad, and the work I am doing now with the permanent five is in preparation for that visit.

QUESTION: Today, Sandy Berger [United States National Security Adviser] gave what seemed to be a policy statement of the United States that there would be no dilution of the integrity of UNSCOM, and you seemed to be aiming at something that would create zones restricted to UNSCOM.

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL: I don't see how you get that inference from anything I have said this afternoon.

QUESTION: In preparation of your eventual visit to Baghdad, what would you want to hear from Baghdad?

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL: I would want to hear that they are accepting the Security Council resolutions and they are prepared to work with us to disarm Iraq and to respect the resolutions of the Council.

QUESTION: Do you feel that the five participants in your meeting are willing to arrive at a deal, or do you feel that one or two of them are not interested in a deal or a compromise?

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL: The fact that we have met a second time and have fixed a third meeting indicates that there is a willingness for us to work together and find a common ground that will permit me to move on to Baghdad.

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