Annan: Iraq war hasn't made world safer
Sunday, October 17, 2004 Posted: 9:16 AM EDT (1316 GMT)
Annan has previously described the Iraq war as "illegal."
LONDON, England (AP) -- The U.S.-led war in Iraq hasn't made the world any safer, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a British TV interview broadcast Sunday.
"I cannot say the world is safer when you consider the violence around us, when you look around you and see the terrorist attacks around the world and you see what is going on in Iraq," Annan told the ITV network.
"I cannot say the world is safer. We have a lot of work to do as an international community to try and make the world safer."
Annan has previously described the U.S.-led war that toppled Saddam Hussein as "illegal" because Washington and its coalition partners never got U.N. Security Council backing for the invasion.
However, Annan said in Sunday's interview that Iraqis were likely satisfied that Saddam had been deposed.
"I think the Iraqis and most people in the region are probably happy that Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime are out of power," Annan said. "But I cannot say that they are not concerned about the aftermath of the war."
Annan told ITV that Iraq was "on track" to hold elections at the end of January, but warned that he will speak out if he is not satisfied with the way they are conducted.
"If that sort of judgment or any decision which is made which we think detracts from the credibility and viability of the elections, we will be duty bound to say so," he said.
Annan also dismissed any suggestion that France, Russia and China had been prepared to ease sanctions on Saddam Hussein's Iraq in return for oil contracts.
Iraq tried to manipulate foreign governments by awarding contracts -- and bribes -- to foreign companies and political figures in countries that showed support for ending sanctions, in particular Russia, France and China, the final report by the U.S.-led Iraq Survey Group said earlier this month.
But Annan said it was "inconceivable" that Saddam's activities could have influenced policy in the countries concerned.
"I don't think the Russian or the French or the Chinese government would allow itself to be bought because some of his companies are getting relative contracts from the Iraqi authorities," Annan said. "I don't believe that at all.
"I think it's inconceivable, these are very serious and important governments. You are not dealing with banana republics."
Annan also warned against any possible U.S. military action to prevent Iran developing its nuclear program.
"To undertake an operation of that kind would not be helpful at all," he said. "I don't even want to contemplate it because I think it would be very unwise."
President George W. Bush has said the United States won't allow Iran to build a nuclear bomb. Washington is pushing for U.N. sanctions against Iran. |
