United Nations: The UN Security Council has acceded to the demand made by the Non
Aligned Movement (NAM) that it hold an open meeting on Iraq to enable all UN members
to express their views on the issue at this critical juncture.
The Council members would express their views on Iraq immediately after chief
weapons inspector Hans Blix and (International Atomic Energy Agency) IAEA chief
Mohamed ElBaradei present their report on February 13 on whether Iraq is co-
operating with the inspectors.
But the Council has scheduled another open meeting on February 18 in which all UN
members would be able to participate.
Security Council president Gunter Pleuger of Germany said this is being done in the
interest of transparency and to give a chance to all members of the United Nations
to express their views.
The meeting would be extended beyond February 18, if necessary, to accommodate all
speakers, Pleuger said.
PTI
