Arab foreign ministers, during their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, urged Iraq to allow UN weapons inspectors to return. Mahmoud Hammoud, the Lebanese Foreign Minister, told reporters that Arab leaders have loudly and clearly expressed their support for Iraq's territorial integrity and security while also calling for the full implementation of all UN resolutions regarding Iraq. Mr. Hammoud also stated that the return of weapons inspectors would bring peace and stability to the Iraqi people. The Lebanese diplomat mentioned that Najy Sabri, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, indicated to the group of Arab foreign ministers that Baghdad is prepared to allow the return of weapons inspectors after certain conditions are met. However, the United States insists that Saddam Hussein, the leader of Iraq, must allow the inspectors to return unconditionally. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, told the Arab foreign ministers that he asked them to exert pressure for the return of weapons inspectors as a means to prevent another major war in the Middle East.
Arab Ministers Urge Iraq to Allow UN Inspectors to Return - 2002-09-15
Arab foreign ministers have called on Iraq to permit the return of UN weapons inspectors, emphasizing support for Iraq's sovereignty while demanding compliance with UN resolutions. The U.S. maintains that Iraq must allow inspectors back without conditions. This situation is critical as it could influence regional stability and the potential for conflict.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Arab foreign ministers urged Iraq to allow the return of UN weapons inspectors during a meeting at the UN General Assembly. Iraq's Foreign Minister indicated a willingness to comply under certain conditions, while the U.S. demanded unconditional access for the inspectors.
- Arab leaders support Iraq's sovereignty while calling for compliance with UN resolutions.
- The U.S. insists on unconditional return of weapons inspectors to prevent potential conflict.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The situation in Iraq was tense due to suspicions of weapons of mass destruction, leading to calls for international oversight. This was part of a broader context of post-9/11 U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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