Weapons inspectors should be given more time to do their jobs and disarm Iraq peacefully, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said today ahead of crucial reports from the chief inspectors assessing Iraqi compliance.
“They should be given the time to do their work and all of us, the council and the assembly, must realise that time will be necessary, a reasonable amount of time, I’m not saying forever, but they do need time to get their work done, and I suspect the council will allow that to be done,” Annan said at UN HQ in New York.
He added: “I have not given up on peace.
“I really hope that Iraq will comply and we will be able to get on and disarm Iraq peacefully.”