UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in Washington Monday that he can confirm that the Iraqi authorities has allowed the return of UN inspectors mandated to supervising the terminating of Iraq's development for weapons of mass destruction.
Speaking to reporters at the stakeout position of the UN delegation's entrance, Annan said: "I can confirm to you that I have received a letter from the Iraqi authority conveying the decision to allow the return of the inspectors without condition."
He added that Baghdad has also agreed to "start immediate discussions on the practical arrangements for the return of the inspectors to resume their work."
"I am now passing the letter on to the Security Council and they will have to decide what they do next," he said.
The UN chief paid particular tribute to all Member States, "and to the Arab League, who played a key role in this."
He thanked Secretary-General Amr Moussa of the Arab League for his strenuous efforts in helping to convince Iraq to allow the return of inspectors.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri gave UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan a letter from his government on Monday, the letter was then transferred to Stefan Tafrov, president of the Security Council, a UN spokesman said.
The spokesman said Sabri handed over the letter at a meeting also attended by Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa.
(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2002)
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