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CNN Sunday Morning

Arab League Appeals to Hussein to Let Weapons Inspectors Into Iraq

Aired September 15, 2002 - 11:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Members of the Arab League are concerned a military confrontation between the United States and Iraq could further inflame the Middle East and they're appealing to Saddam Hussein to let United Nations weapons inspectors return. Nearly two dozen Arab foreign ministers met yesterday at the U.N. Here now is CNN's senior U.N. correspondent, Richard Roth.
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RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One by one, the Arab diplomatic world filed in. Foremost on the ministers' minds, an issue that just won't go away: Iraq. Naji Sabri, the foreign minister of Iraq, attended the Arab group meeting. He listened as United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged Arab countries to push Iraq to accept weapons inspectors.

"It is an unsettled world," said Annan, "and every effort must be made to avoid another major conflict."

After Annan departed, the Arab ministers told Iraq to grant access to the U.N. weapons experts.

AMRE MOUSSA, ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL: Unanimous appeal by all ministers to Iraq to accept the return of the -- to allow the inspectors to return, and the foreign minister of Iraq was positive in his explanation of the position of his country.

ROTH: But no definitive change in position by Iraq, and the rest of the Arab world isn't yet ready to back U.N. military action.

MAHMOUD HAMMOUD, LEBANESE FOREIGN MINISTER: If we are going to the military action, we have to work the diplomatic ways and use necessary means in order to bring back the situation to its normalcy.

ROTH: In the General Assembly hall, one member of the EU, and a permanent member of the Security Council, appealed for more international support to deal with Iraq's defiance.

JACK STRAW, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: All of us who believe in the United Nations have to make up our minds now about how to deal with Iraq. The authority of the United Nations itself is at stake.

ROTH: But another European power is still opposed to the use of force. JOSCHKA FISCHER, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): In the face of these open questions, we are full of deep skepticism regarding military action, therefore, remain with our approach.

ROTH: Diplomacy is far from over. Late in the day, an unscheduled meeting between the secretary-general of the U.N., the Arab League and Iraq's foreign minister. An Iraqi official claimed movement, but nobody confirmed that.

MARWAN MUASHER, JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, we don't know yet. I think it is clear to us all that the best course to take at this time is for the Iraqis to accept the reintroduction of U.N. inspectors.

ROTH: Iraq's foreign minister did huddle with the U.N. ambassador from Russia, who may be the last line of defense for Iraq inside the Security Council, with its veto power.

(on camera): But the major powers on the Security Council appear more united than ever on Iraq. It will be up to Baghdad to decide whether to yield to pressure from the U.S. or its Arab brethren before finally saying yes to inspections.

Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.

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