IRAQ: IRAQ AGREES TO GRANT UNITED NATIONS ARMS EXPERTS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO ALL SITES

Record ID: 337727

  • Title: IRAQ: IRAQ AGREES TO GRANT UNITED NATIONS ARMS EXPERTS IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO ALL SITES
  • Date: 22nd June 1996
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 22, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV NEWS CONFERENCE 0.07 2. MCU CHAIRMAN OF THE UNITED NATIONS (U.N.) SPECIAL COMMISSION (UNSCOM) ROLF EKEUS SAYING I AM CONVINCED THERE IS NO STANDOFF AFTER THESE TALKS (ENGLISH) 0.27 3. SV CAMERAMEN 0.30 4. MCU EKEUS SAYING THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKES TO SECURE UNCONDITIONAL, UNRE
  • Embargoed: 7th July 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • City:
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVAAFBBU3LDISH9FFWLGY44T1DQ1
  • Story Text: INTRO: Iraq has agreed to grant United Nations arms experts immediate access to all sites, ending a crisis over the inspection of disputed facilities.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq ended the crisis over inspections of its military installations by agreeing to allow arms experts from the United Nations (U.N.) to inspect all sites, senior Iraqi and U.N.

    officials said on Saturday (June 22).

    The U.N., for its part, would try to respect Iraq's concerns over sovereignty and national security when searching such sites for proscribed items or documents, the officials said.

    The announcement was made at a joint news conference attended by Riyad al-Qeisi, Iraq's foreign ministry undersecretary, and Rolf Ekeus, chairman of the U.N. Special Commission (UNSCOM) disarming Iraq under the 1991 Gulf War ceasefire agreement.

    Ekeus said: "I am convinced there is no standoff after these talks... The Iraqi government undertakes to secure unconditional, unrestricted and immediate access to all sites." Qeisi added: "I am glad to say that we have reached agreement on what we have discussed and a joint statement has been signed.

    The crisis over inspections erupted last week when Iraqi authorities denied a team headed by Nikita Smidovich access to five Republican Guard facilities in and around Baghdad on grounds of national security.

    The two sides agreed on a "joint plan of action" to ensure that all the requirements under the ceasefire conditions were met as soon as possible.

    Iraq apparently dropped an earlier demand for a timetable for the end of UNSCOM's disarmament activities. But the two sides said they agreed to accelerate the pace of inspections.


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