Iraq Unconditionally Accept the UN Arms Inspection

The UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced at the UN Headquarters, “We’ve received a letter from the Iraqi Government to accept the UN Arms Inspectors unconditionally,” and put meaning on to it, “Due to the US President George W. Bush’s address at the UN General Assembly and arbitration of the Arab League, we could change the mind of Iraq.” The Arms Inspectors evacuated from Iraq right before the US and British Armies started to attack Iraq on December 1998, and could not reenter Iraq because of refusal of Iraq since then.

Iraq said at the letter that the Secretary General Annan opened to public, “We decided like that to complete the UN’s related resolutions and to remove the doubt that we had massive killing weapons,” and “we are ready to discuss about placing inspectors to start the inspection right away.”

▽Different reactions from the international society=In response to this letter, the Assistant Whitehouse Spokesperson Scott McClarun pointed out through his statement, “It is just a dodging tactics of Iraq, and it is not a matter of inspection but matter of dismantling massive killing weapons and following the resolution of the Security Council by Iraq,” and “it is the time for the Security Council to take an action.” The New York Times reported on the 17th that a high ranking official of the US State Department said, “This letter is not a promise to give up weapons, to guarantee an inspection without any obstacles, nor to open the situation of weapons development.”

The American media reported that the Office of the British Prime Minister criticized, “The President Sadam Hussein has deceived the opponent for long time,” and “we must watch carefully whether this proposal is sincere or not.”

However, the French Minister of the Foreign Affairs, who was strongly opposed to the American assertion to attack Iraq, insisted again at the UN on the 16th, “The point of the international society is dismantling of weapons in Iraq, not changing the government.” The LA Times reported that the Russian Minister of the Foreign Affairs Igory Ivanof, who is participating on the UN General Assembly, said, “Because of this letter, the need for discussing a new resolution against Iraq has been disappeared.”

The Arms Inspection of the UN is consisted of △bio-chemical and long range missiles inspection led by the head, Hans Blicks, and △nuclear weapon inspection by the IAEA led by the head, Jack Boat, and both heads said they were ready to start inspection right away.

△Sudden drop of oil price=Since Iraq announced to accept the inspection, the international oil price was dropped suddenly.

The mid-range oil from west Texas (WTI) on October was dealt at 29.67 dollars, which was dropped 14 cents, at the closing of the NYMEX on the 16th, but recorded 28.40 dollars, which was dropped by 4.3% (1.27 dollars) at the after hour dealing, so 29 dollar line was broken.

konihong@donga.com