Mixed Reactions to Iraqi Move on Weapons Inspections

On Tuesday, Germany’s Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer welcomed Iraq’s offer to let weapons inspectors back into the country as "a step in the right direction", calling it the result of the United Nations’ joint action.

But the UN was far from undivided on the issue.

Russia praised Iraq’s offer, saying the threat of war had been averted. America, however, dismissed it as a "tactical step by Iraq in hopes of avoiding strong UN security council action". Britain backed the US, who wants a new UN resolution that will allow the use of force against Iraq if Saddam Hussein refuses to comply.

Only one goal

German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder reiterated his government’s position in Berlin on Tuesday that the focus of the international community should be on disarmament and not regime change. "Our only goal was to let inspectors back into the country", the chancellor told public television broadcaster ZDF. He said the German government regarded any other goal as wrong, referring to a possible US military attack on Iraq.

Schröder said the latest developments were not least the result of Bush’s recent speech to the UN, when he told the General Assembly that he was no longer willing to tolerate Iraq violations, but also the result of the work of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

German opposition leader Edmund Stoiber used Iraq’s offer as a chance to attack the German chancellor, saying the reactions showed the complete failure of the German government’s policy on Iraq. "The developments show that Schröder and his isolationist course was completely wrong." Schröder had not contributed to the peaceful solution at all, Stoiber said. "His irresponsible policies have been stopped by other countries".

Stoiber (photo) said he supported the US’ call for a UN resolution which would give Iraq a deadline on weapons inspections. "Every country that shies away (from this demand), taking away the pressure, endangers the success. The only government – apart from the Iraqi government – that puts itself against this pressure, is the red-green [current German] federal government".

No conditions

Iraq made the offer to allow weapons inspectors back into the country on Monday in a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Signed by Iraqi foreign minister, Naji Sabri, it said: "I am pleased to inform you of the decision of the government of the Republic of Iraq to allow the return of the United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq without conditions".

The letter said Iraq was prepared to start "immediate discussions" on the practical arrangements for the return of the inspectors.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the main global cooperative body on nuclear issues, said it was ready to resume inspections in Iraq as early as Wednesday, according to Reuters. The IAEA, an international inspectorate based in Vienna, has been working closely with the UN on arms inspections in Iraq.

UN weapons inspectors were stationed in Iraq after the Gulf war as part of resolutions which tied the lifting of sanctions on Iraq to the country’s disarmament.

They left Iraq four years ago after complaining of obstruction by Iraqi authorities. Since then Baghdad has refused to allow inspectors to return.