By Federal News Service
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1998

AMB. HAMDOON: (In progress due to feed) -- well, I met with the -- (inaudible) -- secretary-general upon his request, and we exchanged ideas and views on the situation. And I told him that Iraq has nothing more to do, can do nothing to provide any new factor. It's up to the council, up to the secretary-general to bear their responsibilities under the international law and under the charter; to prevent military action on Iraq, which is inconsistent with the Security Council resolutions and with the Charter of the United Nations. I told him that and kind of laid down the responsibilities on himself?? and on the Security Council membership.

     Q Why is it inconsistent with U.N. resolutions?

     AMB. HAMDOON: There's nothing in the military -- sorry. There is nothing in the Security Council resolutions or provisions that will allow military action against Iraq without Security Council approval. And clearly the Security Council is in no way going to approve such an authorization as the United States and the United Kingdom that are taking on their responsibilities the military option. It's not the Security Council institution that has been deciding so.

     (Cross talk.)

     Q Mr. Ambassador, how will Iraq react to any military action? (Off mike) -- response?

     AMB. HAMDOON: Well, we reserve our rights to whatever retaliation, whatever self-defense measures that we're going to take. It's difficult for me at this point to elaborate on this -- these strategies.

     Q Did you, Mr. Hamdoon, suggest that he -- (off mike)?

     AMB. HAMDOON: There was no -- there were no initiatives involved here. As I mentioned, it was exchange of views. There is nothing new to add to the situation.

     Q You didn't ask him if he would -- to make another trip to Baghdad or whether he'd take any other responsibility for that?

     AMB. HAMDOON: I did ask him to take his responsibility, as the secretary-general of this organization, to try to do whatever in his capacity to dissuade certain members of the Security Council not to do anything that has not been adopted by the Security Council institution.

     Q And would that stay the same? What did he ask you?

     Q And would one of those things be --

     Q What did he say?

     Q What did he say?

     Q -- possibly going to Baghdad? And what was his response?

     AMB. HAMDOON: That was not discussed. But it is always, I think, in his capacity to propose such a visit, and I am sure that he will be welcomed, but that was not discussed in the meeting.

     Q What was he --

     Q What does he ask from Iran? And is that --

     Q In the first place, is there a possibility of a -- (inaudible)?

     AMB. HAMDOON: It was an exchange of views. Again, I told him that there is nothing else that Iraq could do to add to the picture. Iraq has done what is in its capacity. We have provided everything that we have had to the Special Commission.

     The IAEA was satisfied. It was working jointly at many instances with the UNSCOM. And you saw the report of the IAEA. It was kind of perfect on the question of the Iraqi cooperation. It is only because the IAEA is not politicized, is a very technical, very professional agency, while UNSCOM unfortunately has been heavily influenced by the United States policies.

     Q And what is --

     Q Ambassador, has the secretary-general indicated to you a willingness to talk by telephone at the time this occurred?

     AMB. HAMDOON: That was not mentioned, no.

     Q What did he say when you asked to the secretary-general, "Can you dissuade the parties involved?" Did he give you any assurances that he would speak to the parties on this and -- maybe a meeting in the U.S. or the U.K.?

     AMB. HAMDOON: Well, he expressed to me the fact that in his cover letter to the Security Council, he has indicated some options for the council to pick. And he still think that those options have to be considered, rather than "to abrupt" the whole process and to resort to military action by certain members of the Security Council.

     Q (Inaudible) -- those options -- (inaudible)?

     AMB. HAMDOON: It's not our options; it's the secretary general's options. But obviously, these options were rejected by the United States and the United Kingdom. And unless the council adopt them or consider them, it is difficult for us right now to provide any response to those propositions.

     Q Does the secretary-general agrees with the American interpretation that Iraq now is in violation of the last -- (word inaudible)?

     AMB. HAMDOON: I don't think he does. I haven't seen any statement by the secretary-general to that effect.

     Q Did the secretary-general give any assurances that he would in fact intervene on behalf of Iraq to stop any potential military action?

     AMB. HAMDOON: He promised that he will be doing his best, but, obviously, he said that it's up to the Security Council and not to him to look into any of the options that are provided. But he said that he will be keeping his own views, to be pressed on the Security Council in order to pick those options or at least one of them.

     Thank you very much.

     Q Thank you.

END.

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