for statement-1102

A Statement by the US Fellowship of Reconciliation

September 20, 2002

On September 16, 2002, the Foreign Minister of Iraq, Dr. Naji Sabri, communicated the decision of the government of Iraq to allow for the return of United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq, without conditions.

The Fellowship of Reconciliation joins with other members of the global community for peace and nonviolence in applauding this historic decision. We commend the government of Iraq for agreeing to allow for the resumption of these inspections, and urge them to honor their commitment to provide free and unrestricted access to all United Nations personnel in the course of performing any and all necessary inspection tasks.

Further, we urge the international community, and especially the government of the United States, to honor and support the weapons inspection process as a clear and positive alternative to military intervention. The U.S. should also use this opportunity to continue to develop nonviolent alternatives to a potentially catastrophic war with Iraq.

We also join with other members of the global community in calling for the end of U.N. sanctions against Iraq as a consequence of Iraqi compliance with international law. We believe that the decision by Iraq to allow for the resumption of weapons inspections, according to the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, must be fully honored by Iraq, by the United States of America, and by the world community.

We urge all parties in this critical issue to demonstrate integrity and restraint, and to allow for a nonviolent, negotiated process to take the place of continued economic sanctions and the possibility of more, and greater, military attacks directed against the Iraqi people.

Contact:

Ibrahim Abdil-Mu’id Ramey(disarm@forusa.org)
Hossein Alizadeh(iraq@forusa.org)

©2002 Fellowship of Reconciliation