The head of the United Nations weapons inspection team, Mr. Hans Blix, is traveling to Moscow tomorrow to discuss the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq with senior Russian officials. According to news reports today, Yuri Fedotov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, stated that Russia expects the new U.S. resolution regarding weapons inspections in Iraq to not contain unacceptable demands or threats of the use of force. Yesterday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell indicated that he intends to submit a conciliatory resolution regarding Iraq to the United Nations Security Council this week. Mr. Powell told reporters that the proposed new resolution will include details of a rigorous inspection program and will contain a warning that any violation of the resolution's terms by Iraq will have consequences for the country. France has been at the forefront of countries trying to ensure that United Nations resolutions do not explicitly include the use of force in case Iraq fails to comply with the terms of those resolutions. Iraqi officials stated yesterday that any new resolution would contradict agreements previously accepted by Baghdad with UN officials regarding the return of weapons inspectors to the country.
UN Weapons Inspection Chief to Visit Moscow
Hans Blix, the head of the UN weapons inspection team, is set to visit Moscow to discuss the return of inspectors to Iraq amid concerns over a new U.S. resolution. Russia hopes the resolution will not include unacceptable demands or threats of force. This situation is critical as it reflects ongoing tensions and negotiations surrounding Iraq's compliance with international mandates.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Hans Blix is visiting Moscow to discuss the return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq, amid concerns about a new U.S. resolution. Russia hopes the resolution will avoid unacceptable demands or threats of force.
- The U.S. is preparing a new resolution for the UN Security Council regarding weapons inspections in Iraq.
- Iraq has expressed that any new resolution would contradict prior agreements with the UN.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The UN has been involved in monitoring Iraq's weapons capabilities since the Gulf War, and compliance has been a contentious issue leading to international debates over military intervention.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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