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Iraq wants embargo lifted as soon as possible
Baghdad, Sept 17: Iraq today called for the crippling 12-year-old United Nations sanctions regime to be lifted `as soon as possible` now that it has agreed to the return of UN weapons inspectors.
Baghdad, Sept 17: Iraq today called for the crippling 12-year-old United Nations sanctions regime to be lifted "as soon as possible" now that it has agreed to the
return of UN weapons inspectors.
"We hope that the return of inspectors will lead as soon as possible to the lifting of sanctions and the normalisation of Iraq's situation," Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz told journalists in Baghdad. "The US and British governments were making a great fuss about weapons of mass destruction. If it is a genuine concern, this is the way to remove (it)," Aziz said.
He called on the UN arms inspectors to "come and act honestly, professionally in order to check the truth, to search for the truth." "They can reach the truth within a reasonable period," he added, warning that "if the Americans were using this matter as a pretext, they might use other pretexts to commit an aggression against Iraq."
Baghdad agreed today to the unconditional return of arms inspectors after a four-year break, but the United States dismissed the move as a tactic, though China and Russia said it could prevent war.
"The excuse used (by Washington) to launch an aggression has been totally blocked," Aziz earlier told a gathering of political supporters in Baghdad. Bureau Report
"We hope that the return of inspectors will lead as soon as possible to the lifting of sanctions and the normalisation of Iraq's situation," Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz told journalists in Baghdad. "The US and British governments were making a great fuss about weapons of mass destruction. If it is a genuine concern, this is the way to remove (it)," Aziz said.
He called on the UN arms inspectors to "come and act honestly, professionally in order to check the truth, to search for the truth." "They can reach the truth within a reasonable period," he added, warning that "if the Americans were using this matter as a pretext, they might use other pretexts to commit an aggression against Iraq."
Baghdad agreed today to the unconditional return of arms inspectors after a four-year break, but the United States dismissed the move as a tactic, though China and Russia said it could prevent war.
"The excuse used (by Washington) to launch an aggression has been totally blocked," Aziz earlier told a gathering of political supporters in Baghdad. Bureau Report