Stewart Stogel, NewsMax.com
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2002

In an afternoon luncheon with the council members, it was "decided" that Iraq's invitation for a Baghdad meeting with U.N. arms chief Hans Blix was "something new" and should be "explored," according to a senior diplomat who attended.

The main sticking point is Iraqi insistance that the U.N. outline a timetable and program of work in advance of any new inspections.

The U.N. says such a timetable and agenda could be arrived at only when inspections resume.

Security Council resolutions state that such a timetable should be presented for consideration "within 60 days of the resumption of inspections."

Council diplomats confirm that the U.S. and the United Kingdom were "highly skeptical" of Iraq's invitation and called it a "stall tactic." However, Annan countered by calling the proposal "something new, positive" and "something which should be explored." The council president, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte, "deferred" to Annan's position, "albeit reluctantly."

In short, the council had battle lines drawn. The U.S. and Britain are moving to rejecting the Iraqi invitation, while the French, Russians and Chinese are in favor of continuing discussions.

Annan was put in the position of trying to bridge the gap.

Annan's senior adviser on Iraq, Vladimir Gratchev, is a veteran of the Russian and Soviet foreign ministries.

The secretary-general was expected to send a follow-up letter to Baghdad on Monday night. A reply is expected by midweek.

Speaking on background, one council diplomat confirmed that arms inspector Blix did draft a letter rejecting the Iraqi invitation. He added that "the letter is still on his desk; it is on hold. Perhaps it will stay there."

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:

Bush Administration

Middle East

Saddam Hussein/Iraq

United Nations

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