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The United Nations is ready to send weapon inspectors back to Iraq to check for weapons of mass destruction, but only on its terms, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix said Sunday.
"We are very eager to start inspections," Blix told the BBC television.
His remarks were made after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's government early this week sent new proposals to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and asked UN inspectors go back to Iraq.
"However, you have to read the small print of any invitation," he said.
"It seems this was by no means a decision by the Iraqis to invite inspectors, but rather to suggest discussions..." he said.
"We have not been directed by the UN Security Council to do that," Blix said from New York while giving an interview to the British Broadcasting Cooperation television program.
Earlier, Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri replied to a request from UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asking Bagdhad to confirm its readiness to abide by all UN Security Council resolutions.
"They want talks first, and in light of the talks maybe decide whether they will invite inspectors," said Blix, a former Swedish diplomat who currently heads the UN Monitoring, Verification and Control Commission (UNMOVIC).
Asked about the threat of a United States war on Iraq to overthrow Saddam, Blix said he "would think that if the Iraqis conclude that an invasion by someone is inevitable, then they might conclude that it's not very meaningful to have inspection."
(Xinhua News Agency August 19, 2002)
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