Bush prods United Nations to lift sanctions against Iraq
this seems to be taking longer than the war did....
"But veto-wielding members France and Russia have voiced objections to abandoning the sanctions until the United Nations certifies that Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction
WASHINGTON -- President Bush prodded U.N. Security Council nations Wednesday to lift sanctions against Iraq, saying no country should use sanctions "to hold back the hopes of the Iraqi people."
After meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, Bush said he senses there is now "a mood to work together" on a sanctions resolution, despite earlier objections that divided the Security Council over whether to go war in Iraq.
Aznar agreed. "Absolutely. I hope it's true," he said. "Everyone needs to contribute to it within the Security Council."
The United States is working on a resolution -- which could be introduced at the Security Council as early as next week -- that would lift sanctions imposed on Iraq after the 1991 Gulf War. But veto-wielding members France and Russia have voiced objections to abandoning the sanctions until the United Nations certifies that Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction.
Bush looked past those objections, saying, "The atmosphere that existed prior to the war has changed. People now want to work together for the good of the Iraqi people."
Aznar was the latest in a series of world leaders who received a personal thanks from Bush for supporting military action in Iraq. Last weekend, Bush played host to Australian Prime Minister John Howard at his ranch in Texas.
Bush praised Aznar as an important friend of America, calling him a man of principle and courage. He thanked Aznar for providing diplomatic support before the Iraq war and for allowing U.S. planes to fly over Spanish airspace and use Spanish air bases.
Aznar said, "When you give your word and you keep it, that gives rise to trust. And that actually is what serious countries and serious governments must do."
Bush also expressed regrets about the deaths of two Spanish journalists killed in Iraq when U.S. forces fired on a Baghdad hotel where foreign reporters were working.
"I think war is a dangerous place, and I think that nobody would kill a journalist intentionally," Bush said.
Aznar said he accepted Bush's explanation.
In calling for lifting U.N. sanctions, Bush announced that the United States had removed its sanctions against Iraq.
"The regime that the sanctions were directed against no longer rules Iraq," Bush said. "And no country in good conscience can support using sanctions to hold back the hopes of the Iraqi people."
Aznar did get one plum from the Bush administration during his visit.
The State Department announced it was moving toward adding Batasuna, a Basque nationalist party, to its list of terrorist organizations. Aznar had requested such a designation.
The group was recently outlawed in Spain for its suspected ties to the armed separatist group ETA (Basque Homeland and Liberty), which had already been included on the list.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that U.S. assets of the organization -- and two predecessor groups -- were being frozen, a first step to adding it to the terrorist list.
"Since its establishment in the 1960s, ETA has been responsible for over 850 deaths in Spain," Boucher said. "The United States stands with Spain in its fight against terrorism. Spain has continued to be a strong ally in the global war against terrorism."
Aznar suffered politically at home for his strong support of Bush's war effort. Huge anti-war demonstrations filled the streets of Madrid and other Spanish cities and Aznar saw his approval ratings plummet. |
