UN gives Iraq another chance

The United Nations has marked its annual concern over Iraq with a new version of the old proposal. It will suspend trade sanctions if Iraq cooperates with disarmament inspections. The unfriendly response by Baghdad gives little hope Iraq will rejoin the rest of the world.

The UN Security Council's new offer to Iraq shows the deep concern of the world body on two issues. The council was unanimous that nine years after the Kuwait invasion, Iraq remains a dangerous threat to regional and world peace. It also was unanimous that the trade sanctions of the past nine years have put the people of Iraq at risk.

Iraq must note that Russia and China did not reject this resolution. Their diplomats felt it could not be properly enforced and they supported a weaker control over Baghdad.

But mark this well: neither did the U.S. and Britain reject this solution. Washington and London were in a position to do nothing, and thus keep the old, heavy sanctions on Baghdad.

The best thing that could happen now would be for Iraq to recognize its responsibility to the world. For nearly nine years, it has refused to live up to its own, voluntary promise to disarm, to stop threatening its neighbors and to live in peace with the world. Its cooperation with UN weapons inspectors has been niggardly at best.

-- The Bangkok Post