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Journalism of Courage
BAGHDAD, JAN 21: Iraq has imposed a freeze on the issue of access to Presidential sites for United Nations (UN) weapons experts and linked it to lifting of the oil embargo, chief UN arms inspector Richard Butler said today.
“(Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq) Aziz proposed we should freeze any further discussions (on Presidential sites) until results of the (technical evaluation meetings) are announced,” Butler told reporters.
The two sides agreed yesterday that experts from the five permanent Security Council members and Germany will take part next month in the first technical evaluation meeting (TEM) on missile warheads and chemical agents.
“He assumed those meetings will show that the various weapons files are ready for closure,” the chairman of the UN Special Commission on Disarming Iraq said at a press conference after his final meeting with Aziz.
Butler said Aziz told him Iraq will be ready to discuss access to Presidential sites in April if the outcome of the technical evaluation meeting is positive for Iraq.
