'Consequences' follow if Iraq balks: Canadian FM Graham

The Star ^ | September 24 2002 | John Ward

[knighthawk]

Foreign minister shies away from explicitly backing military action

By John Ward, Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Canada supports the U.S. position that action should follow if Saddam Hussein tries to hamper United Nations weapons inspectors looking for weapons of mass destruction, Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham says.

"We can certainly endorse the United States position that there has to be clear consequences for a failure to act," he said following a cabinet meeting today.

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien said he wants to see a no-nonsense resolution in the UN Security Council on ferreting out Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

"We hope that it will be a new resolution that will be very tight and very clear," Chrétien said.

"We want the inspectors to be there as soon as possible and we want Saddam Hussein to destroy any armaments of massive destruction that he might have in his possession."

Graham was reluctant to specify that military action should follow if Iraq fails to meet its obligations, but he did say any new Security Council resolution should have no loopholes.

"The UN resolution should be absolutely clear in making sure that Saddam Hussein realizes he has to absolutely conform to the admission of inspectors and, once they're admitted, that they have ... unfettered access and there's no wiggle room to fool around or action will be taken."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair released a dossier today saying Saddam continues to develop chemical and biological weapons and has extended the range of his missiles.

Iraq dismissed Blair's documentation as a "hodgepodge of half-truths, lies and short-sighted and naive allegations."

Chrétien said it's common knowledge that Saddam has already used gas on Iraqi Kurds and against Iran.

Graham said Blair's information has been released before by international strategic studies groups and should be taken seriously.

"It shows why we have always been saying that the United Nations inspectors have to get into Iraq and get in there quickly."

But, he said: "I do not read this as a suggestion that Mr. Blair is advocating that we attack Iraq immediately."

Iraq sent a letter a week ago to UN secretary general Kofi Annan agreeing to accept inspectors without conditions. But the United States has expressed scepticism Iraq will fulfil that promise.

Annan said Monday he has not heard from Iraq since the Sept. 16 letter.

[knighthawk]

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