DUBAI/BAGHDAD, 4 November — Saudi Arabia said yesterday it would not allow the United States to use its facilities for any attack against neighboring Iraq even if a strike was sanctioned by the United Nations. “We will abide by the decision of the United Nations Security Council and we will cooperate with the Security Council. But as to entering the conflict or using facilities... that is something else,” Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal told CNN.
“Our policy is that if the United Nations takes a decision on Chapter 7, it is obligatory on all signatories to cooperate but that is not to the extent of using facilities in the country or the military forces of the country,” he added. Chapter 7 of the UN Charter makes it mandatory for UN member countries to implement any measure immediately as part of international law.
The prince’s remarks were the strongest Saudi rejection of any assistance to a possible US attack on Iraq. Prince Saud has in the past indicated the United States could use bases in Saudi Arabia for an attack on Iraq if it was sanctioned by the UN.
Prince Saud told CNN the Kingdom wanted a political resolution to the Iraq crisis and that Baghdad had made a “very clear and unambiguous promise” to Arab states that it would abide by UN resolutions. “We think the road is set for that.” “Saudi Arabia’s position is a position to support the political settlement of this issue because we think it is feasible,” he said.
The Saudi foreign minister said the fate of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein should be decided by the Iraqi people and warned against a long-term US military presence in Iraq in the event of an attack against Baghdad. “You can never make a permanent change through occupation by foreign forces,” Prince Saud said.
Saddam Hussein told Iraq’s Air Force commanders and pilots yesterday that Iraq was ready for war with the United States. “When God wants us to fight we will be ready to fight under all circumstances. We will fight on all front lines and whatever God wants is appropriate,” Saddam was quoted by Iraq’s official television as saying.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said the United States was making business out of wars and that conflict could be avoided if the superpower stopped “warmongering”. He repeated that Baghdad would not accept a US draft resolution currently under debate at the UN Security Council, saying it amounted to a declaration of war.
