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Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic on the UN Security Council Meeting of February 5, 2003

 

(6/2/2003)

The reports from the UN inspection bodies in Iraq presented to the UN Security Council on January 27, 2003 suggested that Iraq has to date failed to meet fully the expectations of the international community expressed last time in Resolution 1441 of the UN Security Council and has to date failed to accede fully to the demand to disarm.

The presentation by the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell in the UN Security Council on February 5, 2003 pointed to the core of the Iraqi uncooperative approach to the compliance with the obligations set down and provided further information casting serious doubt on the Iraqi allegations of termination of its arms programmes.

Iraq continues to reject to give evidence that it has destroyed and no longer possesses weapons of mass destruction. Apparently, Iraq does not understand the demands of the UN Security Council as a means of gaining confidence of the international community and of peaceful coexistence in the region.

In the interest of preserving global peace and security as well as the credibility of the UN Security Council, such approach cannot be tolerated ad infinitum. The unwillingness of the Iraqi leadership to actively cooperate in compliance with the demands of the UN Security Council may lead to the conclusion that Iraq is not interested in disarming on a verifiable basis and thus in honouring its commitments. From the viewpoint of the Czech Republic, in such a situation the UN Security Council must seek a consensus on how to ensure the implementation of its respective resolutions. The Czech Republic therefore welcomes the continued multilateral approach favoured by the U.S.

The Czech Republic continues to prefer a peaceful solution to the Iraqi issue but all depends completely on the further position of the present Iraqi regime whose last chance is the full implementation of the demands of Resolution 1441 of the UN Security Council. Provided the UN Security Council proves in any form the violation of the Iraqi obligations, the Czech Republic will be prepared to assume its share of responsibility for the maintenance of global peace and security.

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