Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Clown-Free Zone... sorry, no clowns allowed -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lucretius who wrote (13306)	8/23/2000 5:05:03 PM
From: patron_anejo_por_favor	Respond to of 436258

More saber-rattling by Iraq: dailynews.yahoo.com Wednesday August 23 2:00 PM ET Iraq Says It Won't Permit U.N. Visit By LEON BARKHO, Associated Press Writer BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraq said Wednesday it will not permit a new U.N. weapons inspection team to visit, promising that the country would stand firm even if threatened with the use of force. Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz said Iraq had not changed its position on a U.N. resolution that calls for the resumption of stalled weapons inspections and promises Iraq a suspension of sanctions if it cooperates. Asked about Aziz's comments, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said: ``That's been their standing policy for some time. Our position is that we will continue to prepare for a new round of inspections.'' Eckhard said at U.N. headquarters in New York that the world body hopes that Iraq will change its position, accept the inspection teams ``and eventually get to a position where we could declare Iraq in full compliance and see the lifting of the sanctions against that country.'' The head of the new inspection program, Hans Blix, is ready to restart international efforts to ensure Iraq has surrendered weapons of mass destruction and the ability to make and deploy them in compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Blix Tuesday and expressed full support for his activities. Aziz said Iraq will not allow Blix or any of his inspectors to enter the country. ``I have said Iraq will not cooperate with Resolution 1284. This means it will not receive Blix or any person related to this resolution,'' Aziz told reporters. Blix is a former Swedish foreign minister who also served for many years as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The new program is called the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission. It will replace the U.N. Special Commission, the inspection team that left Iraq in December 1998 shortly before the United States and Britain launched airstrikes to punish Baghdad for allegedly failing to cooperate. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher has ruled out the use of force if Iraq rejects the commission. Boucher said Tuesday that Iraq stands to benefit by cooperating. He said the United Nations won't lift its sanctions, imposed to punish Iraq for invading Kuwait in 1990, unless it does. Aziz said threats and military action will not compel Iraq to change its stance. ``We have become accustomed to threats. Iraq is ready for all challenges,'' he said.