U.N.'s Annan Urges Peaceful Iraq Solution
17 minutes ago
By SONJA BARISIC, Associated Press Writer
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - United Nations (news - web sites) secretary-general Kofi Annan (news - web sites) on Saturday urged the United States to keep working with other members of the global alliance to avoid war with Iraq.
"As the United Nations, we have the duty to exhaust all possibilities of peaceful settlement, before resorting to the use of force," Annan said during a speech at the College of William and Mary.
"This is an issue not for any one state, but for the international community as a whole," he said. "When states decide to use force, not in self-defense but to deal with broader threats to international peace and security, there is no substitute for the unique legitimacy provided by the United Nations Security Council."
Twelve years ago, when Iraq invaded Kuwait and refused to withdraw peacefully, the Security Council ultimately made the grim choice to authorize force, he said.
Today, Iraq has not yet satisfied the Security Council it has fully disarmed itself of weapons of mass destruction as it was obligated under the terms of the 1991 cease-fire, Annan said in remarks prepared for the address.
U.N. weapons inspectors are due to give their second report to the Security Council next Friday. If Iraq continues its defiance, the Security Council "will have to make another grim choice, based on the findings of the inspectors," Annan said.
However, Annan said he was confident the U.N.'s two chief inspectors, who are back in Baghdad this weekend, will make clear to Iraq what it must do to comply with its obligation to disarm. Their hand was strengthened by Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites)'s presentation to the Security Council on Wednesday, Annan said.
Powell presented tape recordings of intercepted telephone calls, satellite photos and informants' statements that he said constituted "irrefutable and undeniable" evidence that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) was concealing weapons of mass destruction.
Noting that the United States is the most powerful member of the United Nations, Annan urged strong U.S. leadership through "patient diplomatic persuasion and coalition-building."
Annan spoke to about 4,500 people during a ceremony celebrating the 310th anniversary of the founding of the college. He also received an honorary doctorate of public service.
About 100 students, faculty and community members held a peaceful anti-war demonstration outside William and Mary Hall, where Annan spoke. Some in the crowd held signs reading "Might Does Not Equal Right" and "Kofi, Save Us From Our Leader." The demonstration was sponsored by William and Mary Community for Peace Action, a group formed in the last few weeks.
"We're here in support of Kofi Annan," said organizer Matt Lancaster, a 21-year-old religion major. "We're demonstrating against a rush to war. The Bush administration is very gung-ho about going to war. Most Americans want to take a slower approach to this."
Annan also made reference to the deaths of the seven Columbia space shuttle astronauts a week ago.
"The exploration of space transcends all boundaries, and the loss of Columbia is a loss for all humankind," Annan said. |
