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Mix-Ansicht- Araber üben Druck auf Iraq aus (E) - Popeye, 16.09.2002, 14:37
Araber üben Druck auf Iraq aus (E)
-->Saudis put heat on
Saddam
Heat on Iraq as Saudis say US may use
bases
Nicholas Watt and Brian Whitaker
Monday September 16, 2002
The Guardian
Saddam Hussein was facing intense pressure last
night after Saudi Arabia indicated that American
forces would be free to attack Iraq from bases on its
soil if Baghdad rejects a fresh United Nations
resolution on weapons inspectors.
As Washington declared that world leaders were
throwing their weight behind George Bush's call for
"tough" UN action, Saudi Arabia highlighted the new
atmosphere by softening its stance on the use of US
bases in the kingdom.
Weeks after warning that the US would not be able to
use its bases in Saudi Arabia to attack Iraq, the Saudi
foreign minister used an interview with CNN to make it
clear that permission would be granted if Washington
was acting under UN auspices. Asked whether the US
would be free to use military bases in the kingdom if
Iraq refused to comply with a fresh UN security council
resolution, Prince Saud al-Faisal said:"Everybody is
obliged to follow through."
His remarks are likely to transform relations between
Washington and Riyadh, which have been strained
after it emerged that most of the September 11
hijackers came from the kingdom. Saudi Arabia is
likely to argue, however, that its announcement is not
a u-turn because it would regard American forces as
UN troops if Iraq defies a fresh resolution. The prince
also made clear that Saudi Arabia still opposes the
toppling of the Iraqi regime.
British sources last night welcomed the kingdom's
announcement as a sign of the improved atmosphere
in the wake of Mr Bush's decision to consult the
security council.
Colin Powell, the US secretary of state, claimed
yesterday that world leaders were now lining up to call
for firm action against Iraq if it defies the will of the UN.
Speaking after talks at the weekend with his
counterparts from the other 14 members of the UN
security council, Mr Powell told NBC's Meet the Press
programme:"I got good responses from all the people
I talked to. We had a very good dialogue and I'm
pleased with the initial reactions from friends and
colleagues in Europe and elsewhere."
His remarks came after foreign ministers from the
Arab League called on President Saddam to avoid a
military confrontation by allowing UN weapons
inspectors to return. Iraq's foreign minister, Naji Sabri,
reportedly told the league that Baghdad was ready to
comply, though he said that conditions would have to
be met.
The call by the Arab League was echoed by Prince
Saud al-Faisal who told the London-based Al-Hayat
newspaper that Iraq should readmit the inspectors
before a security council resolution was drawn up.
"Timing is important, and allowing the inspectors back
before a security council resolution to that effect would
be in Iraq's favour," the Saudi foreign minister said.
"We are afraid that [a refusal] would harm the Iraqi
people and increase their burden. We are worried
about Iraq's unity, stability and independence."
Britain is to take the lead in the next week in drawing
up a fresh security council resolution calling on
Baghdad to allow UN weapons inspectors, who last
visited Iraq in 1998, unfettered access. The resolution
will indicate that Iraq will face military action if it fails to
comply, although this is expected to be spelt out in
diplomatic language. This is designed to persuade
China, Russia and France - permanent members of
the security council with a power of veto - not to block
the resolution.
Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, spoke yesterday of
"very positive" discussions with the council's
permanent members. He said the resolution would
have three core elements:
· to"recite" all the UN resolutions Iraq has ignored,
which amounts to a"material breach" of the will of the
security council;
· to call on Iraq to readmit inspectors"without
condition and without restrictions";
· to make clear to Iraq that it will face"consequences"
if it defies the UN.
Speaking on BBC1's Breakfast with Frost, Mr Straw
said that Iraq could avoid a military confrontation:
"Allowing [the inspectors] to do their job without
restrictions and without conditions - then the case for
military action recedes to the point almost of
invisibility," Mr Straw said.
But British sources remain sceptical of the chances of
Baghdad complying. If Iraq again defies the UN, Mr
Straw warned, Britain will endorse the US policy of
"regime change"."Either [Saddam] deals with those
weapons of mass destruction or his regime will have
to end," he said."The choice is his. He hasn't got
much time to make up his mind."
Such remarks show that there is still a gulf between
Britain, the US and the Arab world, despite the
growing consensus on weapons inspectors. Arab
countries are opposed to the US policy of"regime
change" in Iraq.
Quelle: Guardian
<ul> ~ http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,792965,00.html</ul>
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