US disappointed with Caricom stand

THE UNITED States is “disappointed” with Caricom’s opposition to the planned American-led attack on Iraq.

Reacting to a Caricom statement in which it appealed to “the United States and its military allies on this issue to exercise restraint in their approach to this complex international crisis”, the United States said it was disappointed the Caribbean didn’t support a firmer stand on the matter. “We were disappointed in CARICOM’s declaration on Iraq,” said the Bush administration. “It is critical at this juncture to maintain the focus on Iraq’s obligation to comply fully, unconditionally and actively with United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions. “The international community must demand Iraqi’s compliance with a clear voice. It must demand that Iraq seize the final opportunity presented by UN Security Council Resolution 1441 and disarm; and it must hold Iraq responsible for its failure to take this chance.”

The United States suggested that the region’s position could be misunderstood in Baghdad. “Saddam will misinterpret any mixed messages from the international community as encouragement to continue his half-measures and stalling tactics, with the inevitable consequences,” it asserted. In its joint statement, which was presented a week ago to the UN Security Council by Earl Huntley, St Lucia’s UN Ambassador, the region called on Iraq “to co-operate fully with UN demands and with its inspectors” and “to fulfill its commitments to the UN and the international community”. The Caribbean said it was “deeply disturbed at the prospect of the use of force in Iraq without the endorsement of the United Nations Security Council and in the absence of a final resolution by the UN weapons inspectors that Iraq is in material breach” of Resolution 1441.

The Caricom statement reflected the position taken by leaders at last month’s inter-sessional summit in Port-of-Spain. “We are not dealing with an innocent party but a regime the Security Council has repeatedly condemned over the years”, the United States said. Just as important, it added, the Iraqi government’s actions in recent weeks in providing limited co-operation was due mainly to “the credible threat of force, led by the United States and other like-minded nations”.