Published January 13, 2015
President Saddam Hussein said Monday that Iraq would await details of any new U.N. resolution on weapons inspections and examine the requirements it imposes on Baghdad before deciding on compliance, Iraqi TV reported.
Saddam's remarks were the first by the Iraqi leadership that indicated the government would not reject outright changes to the U.N. inspections regime.
"Iraq will look into whether it will deal with a resolution after it is issued by the Security Council," state-run television quoted Saddam as saying during a meeting with Austrian far-right politician Joerg Haider.
In a separate meeting Monday with South African envoy Aziz Behad, Iraqi television quoted Saddam as saying: "Iraq will respect any behavior or decision that is issued in accordance with the U.N. Charter and the international law."
However, Saddam made clear he was not accepting any resolution sight unseen.
"If the American pressure, enticements and threats led to decisions that contradict with the interests, security and independence of Iraq, we will defend our people, Iraq's interests and its security," Iraqi television quoted him as saying.
"The most important thing is that we don't let America get the international cover for its aggression. If it unilaterally launches an aggression against us, we will confront it, God willing, although the Iraqis will be subjected to harm because America does not stop at anything," Saddam was quoted as telling Behad.
As recently as Sunday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri suggested Baghdad would reject a draft U.S. document on U.N. weapons inspections, calling it "an evil American resolution," and that Iraq would not be alone in doing so.
"This resolution is rejected by the international community, and it will never be accepted by anybody," Sabri said then.
The proposed U.S. resolution would strengthen U.N. weapons inspections, declare Iraq in "material breach" of its obligations to destroy weapons of mass destruction and threaten "serious consequences," presumably military action, if Baghdad fails to cooperate with inspectors.
Russia, France and China contend the United States could use the resolution to launch an attack on Iraq without Security Council approval. They want the possibility of force to be considered in a second resolution only if Iraq obstructs the inspectors. Council members expect a revised American text this week.
The U.S. draft resolution gives Iraq seven days to comply with its terms from the day of passage. Iraq would then have 30 days to declare its chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs and 20 more days to declare additional chemical programs unrelated to weapons.
The resolution has been in the works since Iraq announced Sept. 16 that weapons inspectors would be welcome to return unconditionally after nearly four years.
Saddam also repeated past pledges that Iraq was free of chemical, nuclear and biological weapons and that his country would strongly resist any American strike.
"Iraq will defend itself if attacked by the United States of America," Iraqi television quoted him as saying.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/saddam-no-decision-on-inspections-until-u-n-reaches-new-resolution