Cowen address to the UN, Call for Iraqi compliance
In an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York tonight, Mr Cowen said all states had to honour their international obligations to ensure continued peace and security. He said the UN could either stand by and strengthen the rule of law or invite anarchy.
Mr Cowen urged Iraq to comply with its obligations for the sake of its own people and said if Baghdad's defiance continued, the Security Council would have to act.
He also paid tribute to the former UN Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, who has just completed her term. Mr Cowen said the Government was deeply proud of her achievements.
The United States and the four other permanent members of the UN Security Council have agreed they should set a time limit for Iraq to allow arms inspectors back into the country.
Earlier, US President George W Bush said he was highly doubtful that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein would meet demands on disarmament and he hoped the United Nations would take action in days or weeks.
Earlier, Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister, Tareq Aziz, said that Baghdad would teach the Americans a lesson if they attacked. Mr Aziz also claimed that yesterday's speech by US President Bush about Iraq was made up of lies and slander.
In an address to the United Nations General Assembly, the US President accused Iraq of building up weapons of mass destruction, and he said action against the regime was inevitable if this continued.
Speaking to reporters in Baghdad, Mr Aziz said Iraq had no chemical or biological weapons and said President Bush had failed to provide proof that it was seeking to obtain nuclear material. Mr Aziz said he would refute Mr Bush's claims one by one. He said a detailed response would come later.
