Middle East

UN envoy on return of missing Kuwaitis in first-ever visit to Baghdad for talks

17 January 2003
Following an invitation from the Iraqi Government, a United Nations envoy is arriving in Baghdad today for two days of talks with authorities on the return of missing persons and seized Kuwaiti property.
Dr. Hans Blix

Top UN inspector meets with European officials, urges ‘proactive’ cooperation by Iraq

16 January 2003
After meeting with European officials today in the first of a series of talks before heading to Baghdad, the top United Nations weapons inspector said Iraq must offer more “proactive” cooperation with UN monitors in order to avoid military conflict.
Kieran Prendergast briefs the Council

Clear consensus for Quartet’s efforts to settle Middle East crisis, Security Council told

16 January 2003
There is a clear consensus within the international community of support for the diplomatic Quartet’s efforts to reach a permanent settlement to the situation in the Middle East based on two sovereign states, living side-by-side in peace and security, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.

UN inspectors report finding empty chemical warheads in Iraq

16 January 2003
United Nations inspectors today found empty chemical warheads at a storage area in Iraq, according to a spokesman for the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) in Baghdad.

UN panel pays over $597 million in claims arising from Iraq's invasion of Kuwait

16 January 2003
A United Nations panel in Geneva today paid out more than $597 million for claims resulting from losses and damage suffered as a direct result of Iraq's 1990 invasion and subsequent occupation of Kuwait.
UN inspectors in Iraq

Arms probe in Iraq continues as UN inspectors visit farms, factories and missile plant

15 January 2003
As the chief United Nations inspectors prepare to visit Iraq this weekend, UN monitors on the ground continued to visit a variety of sites today, including agricultural facilities, a heavy machinery design plant and a missile propellant factory.

Chief UN weapons inspector heads to Europe for talks on Iraq

15 January 2003
Hans Blix, the chief United Nations weapons inspector, is leaving today for a series of meetings with senior European officials before heading to Baghdad this weekend for further talks with Iraqi authorities about the country's compliance with the inspection process, a UN spokesman said Wednesday.

Annan recommends continued presence of UN force in southern Lebanon

15 January 2003
The situation in southern Lebanon has returned to one of general stability with sporadic incidents of hostility between Lebanon and Israel, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says in his latest report on the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Arms probe in Iraq continues as UN inspectors visit munitions depots and factories

14 January 2003
United Nations inspectors today continued their probe for evidence of illegal weapons in Iraq, visiting an agricultural research centre, munitions depots and various factories in the Baghdad area.

Annan 'optimistic and hopeful' Iraq can be disarmed peacefully

14 January 2003
Stressing that United Nations inspectors in Iraq were only now getting up to full speed, Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said he believed it was premature to talk about war before the monitors report to the Security Council again later this month.