Background: Resolving Iraq

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• SPOKESMAN (Translated):

  Will those in favor of the draft resolution…

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  Today's unanimous Security Council vote came after eight weeks of negotiations between the United States and Britain, which sponsored the resolution, and France and Russia, which insisted it include no automatic trigger for war.

• SPOKESMAN (Translated):

  The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  Secretary General Kofi Annan had this message for Saddam Hussein's government.

• KOFI ANNAN:

  Iraq now has a new opportunity to comply with all the relevant resolutions of the Security Council. I urge the Iraqi leadership, for the sake of its own people and for the sake of world security and world order, to seize this opportunity and thereby begin to end the isolation and suffering of the Iraqi people. If Iraq's defiance continues, however, the Security Council must face its responsibilities.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  Under the U.N. resolution: Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has seven days to agree to comply, and 30 days to declare all of Iraq's chemical, biological, and nuclear facilities and programs. Inspectors begin work within 45 days. Iraq must provide "immediate, unimpeded, unconditional and unrestricted" access for the inspectors to all facilities, records and "persons of interest." Failure to comply will constitute a "further material breach" of Iraq's obligations. Inspectors will report any violation to the Security Council, and Iraq will face "serious consequences" for continued violation of its obligations. After the vote, the U.S. Representative to the U.N. emphasized the importance of complete access for the inspection teams and said the resolution gave them a new, powerful mandate.

• JOHN NEGROPONTE:

  The resolution confirms what has been clear for years: That Iraq has been and remains in violation of disarmament obligations– material breach, in lawyers' language. The Council then decides to afford Iraq a final opportunity to comply. As a means to that end, the resolution then establishes an enhanced, strengthened inspection regime. Its core is immediate and unimpeded access to every site, including presidential and other sensitive sites, structure, or vehicle they choose to inspect, and equally the immediate and unimpeded access to people they wish to interview– in other words, anyone, anywhere, any time. As we have said on numerous occasions to council members, this resolution contains no hidden triggers and no automaticity with respect to the use of force.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  If the Iraqis breach the agreement, the Security Council will reconvene on the matter.

• JOHN NEGROPONTE:

  The resolution makes clear that any Iraqi failure to comply is unacceptable and that Iraq must be disarmed. And one way or another, Mr. President, Iraq will be disarmed. If the Security Council fails to act decisively in the event of further Iraqi violations, this resolution does not constrain any member state from acting to defend itself against the threat posed by Iraq or to enforce relevant United Nations resolutions and protect world peace and security. To the government of Iraq, our message is simple: Non-compliance is no longer an option.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  The French and Russian ambassadors explained why they were satisfied with the final draft of the resolution.

• SERGEY LAVROV (Translated):

  The Russian federation made a choice on principle to support the resolution, guided by its special responsibility as a permanent member of the council for the maintenance of international peace and security. What is most important is that the resolution deflects the direct threat of war and opens up the road to further work in the interests of a political, diplomatic settlement.

• JEAN LEVITTE (Translated):

  This resolution strengthens the role and authority of the Security Council. That was the main constant objective of France throughout the negotiations which have just concluded.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  Chief UN weapons inspector, Hans Blix, said his team plans to be at work in Iraq soon.

• HANS BLIX:

  I should safely say that we are very pleased, very pleased that the resolution was adopted by unanimity. That strengthens our mandate very much. Secondly, as to the timetable, yes, we are planning to go to Baghdad on Monday the 18th of this month, so it will be within seven to ten days that we had planned.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  Shortly after the vote, President Bush spoke at the white House.

• PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH:

  The world has now come together to say that the outlaw regime in Iraq will not be permitted to build or possess chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. That is the judgment of the United States Congress. That is the judgment of the United Nations Security Council. Now the world must insist that that judgment be enforced. With the passage of this resolution, the world must not lapse into unproductive debates over whether specific instances of Iraqi non-compliance are serious. America will be making only one determination: Is Iraq meeting the terms of the Security Council resolution or not? The United States has agreed to discuss any material breach with the Security Council, but without jeopardizing our freedom of action to defend our country. If Iraq fails to fully comply, the United States and other nations will disarm Saddam Hussein.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  And in London, Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair echoed the U.S. President.

• TONY BLAIR:

  Saddam must now make his choice. My message to him is this: Disarm or you face force. There must be no more games, no more deceit, no more prevarication, obstruction or defiance. Cooperate fully and despite the terrible injustice you have often inflicted on others, we will be just with you. But defy the United Nations' will, and we will disarm you by force. Be under no doubt whatever of that.

• KWAME HOLMAN:

  Iraq's ambassador to the UN said his country will review the Security Council's resolution before deciding whether or not to accept it.