Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Canada, at U.N., Proposes a 'Third Way to Deal With the Iraqis Canada Proposes a 'Third Way' to Deal With the Iraqis
By Barbara Crossette The New York Times January 23, 1999 The Security Council, divided by radically differing Russian and American proposals for dealing with Iraq, began discussion today of a ' 'third way" proposed by Canada.
The Canadians are hoping to fill the void between what are basically hardened Russian and American policies with new information on which to base future talks on new programs for monitoring Iraqi weapons and insuring adequate supplies of necessary goods to Iraqi civilians. Diplomats say that after weeks of stalemate and posturing by various Council members, the Canadians want to get a real discussion started. Canada became a Council member in January for a two-year term.
Russia, which wants to lift the oil embargo imposed on Iraq in 1990 and abolish the current arms inspection system, has reacted coolly to the Canadian plan, saying it does not give a prominent role to Secretary General Kofi Annan, diplomats said.
The United States, which is prepared to allow Iraq to sell more oil to buy civilian goods without limits but wants to keep arms inspection in place, is listening to Canada's ideas with interest, diplomats said.
France has also made a proposal to the Council, recommending the end to the oil embargo but controls over Iraqi spending once oil sales resume and continued arms monitoring.
Iraq basically wants no restrictions of any kind, saying it has already disarmed completely and is not a threat to its neighbors, an assertion independent arms control experts do not believe.
The Canadians say the Russian and French proposals leave open important questions about how an arms embargo would be enforced if sanctions were lifted, and how monitoring can be restored to Iraq, which now wants no part of arms inspections.
Canada, with the support of Brazil, this month's Council president, is calling for comprehensive assessments on the status of Iraqi disarmament and on the humanitarian situation in Iraq. These assessments would then be the basis for a Council debate about what was needed next, and what would be acceptable to Iraq's supporters here as well as to President Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
The arms report would be compiled by experts from the United Nations Special Commission, known as Unscom, and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Both have been out of Iraq since the American and British air strikes in mid-December. The Canadians are suggesting that Jayantha Dhanapala, Under Secretary General for Disarmament Affairs, preside over the expert meetings on disarmament, a proposal that would sideline Richard Butler, who is the executive chairman of the Special Commission and whom the Russians essentially do not want to deal with.
Under the Canadian plan, Sergio Vieira de Mello, Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, would be chairman of a group of experts on the civilian programs and the workings of the Iraqi sanctions committee.
