United Nations Resolutions

Here is the text of President Bush's remarks Friday about Iraq's offer to withdraw from Kuwait: When I first heard that statement, I must say I was happy that Saddam Hussein had seemed to realize that he must now withdraw unconditionally from Kuwait, in keeping with the relevant United Nations resolutions. Regrettably, the Iraq statement now appears to be a cruel hoax, dashing the hopes of the people in Iraq, and indeed, around the world.

The U.S. said it would block an Arab attempt to get the Security Council to pass its fourth resolution on the Middle East crisis in four weeks, arguing in a protracted debate here Monday that further U.N. action could undermine Secretary of State Colin L. Powell's cease-fire mission. Nasser Kidwa, the Palestinian representative to the U.N.

Here is the text of President Bush's statement Friday on the Persian Gulf crisis, followed by highlights from a question-and-answer session with reporters: I have a statement, an opening statement, that is a little longer than normal, and I'd ask your indulgence. And then I will be glad to respond to questions. We're in the gulf because the world must not and cannot reward aggression. And we're there because our vital interests are at stake.

This is the text of a resolution approved Saturday by the Security Council that calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Ramallah and other Palestinian cities: Resolution 1402, drafted by Norway, was adopted on a 14-0 vote, with Syria not participating in the vote in protest that the resolution was not stronger in condemning Israel.

The Iraqi Statement: IRAQI PULLOUT. "To achieve a dignified and acceptable political settlement, the Revolutionary Command Council has decided to accept U.N. Security Council Resolution 660 of 1990, including the clause related to Iraqi withdrawal. . . ." CEASE-FIRE. The council's statement "should be regarded as a guarantee from Iraq and coupled with an immediate and comprehensive cessation of all land, air and sea military operations." ALLIED WITHDRAWAL.

President Bush sent Iraq mixed signals Monday, portraying the United States as determined to ensure that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein follows through on his promise to scale back his weapons program but stepping away from any discussion of military options. "We are just insisting in every way we can that Iraq comply with the United Nations resolutions," Bush told reporters aboard Air Force One as he was about to begin a daylong campaign trip to Milwaukee and Chicago.

Here is a transcript of President Bush's address to the nation Wednesday night. Five months ago, Saddam Hussein started this cruel war against Kuwait; tonight the battle has been joined. This military action, taken in accord with United Nations resolutions and with the consent of the United States Congress, follows months of constant and virtually endless diplomatic activity on the part of the United Nations, the United States and many, many other countries.

U.S. military officials are planning a series of air and missile attacks against Iraqi weapons sites if Baghdad does not comply with United Nations resolutions requiring it to destroy its remaining nuclear, chemical and ballistic missile facilities. President Bush already has made "a philosophical decision" to order the military action if Iraqi President Saddam Hussein refuses to abide by terms of the cease-fire that ended the Persian Gulf War a year ago, Administration sources said Wednesday.

After teetering on the brink of military action against Iraq a week ago, President Clinton on Saturday articulated a wait-and-see approach in response to the first indication that Baghdad is not fully complying with the wishes of U.N. weapons inspectors. "I think it's important that we not overreact here on the first day," Clinton said. "I want to make sure that I know exactly what the facts are." Last weekend--with a massive U.S.

In another burst of impatience with Saddam Hussein, the U.N. Security Council ordered the seizure of frozen Iraqi oil assets Friday to help pay for all that Iraq owes the United Nations under the cease-fire resolutions ending the Persian Gulf War.

The Security Council approved a resolution Tuesday night endorsing a Palestinian state for the first time, supporting a U.S. measure that also calls for an immediate cease-fire in the escalating Israeli-Palestinian conflict. American U.N. Ambassador John D. Negroponte said Washington's surprise move aimed to give momentum to the peace mission being launched this week by its Middle East envoy Anthony C. Zinni. The resolution came hours after Syria tabled a Palestinian-backed resolution. The U.S.

The Arab League voiced astonishment and concern Sunday at the U.S. decision to veto a U.N. resolution calling for international monitors to help curb violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa "expressed his astonishment and intense concern that the United States employed its right of veto," said a statement by the league, which is based in Cairo. Moussa said the resolution was "balanced and objective."

Palestinians and their Arab allies forced a confrontation with Washington early today, with the United States announcing it would veto an Arab-backed Security Council resolution calling for international intervention to halt "a dangerous deterioration of the situation" in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. The draft resolution won the support of a large council majority, with France, Russia and Ireland joining the expected Asian and African supporters of the Arab position.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a U.S.-sponsored resolution Friday night requiring all countries to crack down on terrorism. In a reversal of Washington's earlier stance of keeping the U.N. at arm's length in its new campaign against terrorism, the U.S. enlisted the Security Council's support in greatly expanding the U.N.'s role in the global fight. U.S. Ambassador John D.

For the second time in less than a week, U.S. warplanes bombed a radar site in southern Iraq in an attempt to disable the nation's increasingly effective air defenses, the Pentagon said. Tuesday's strike by Air Force F-16s was much smaller than an attack by British and American planes against three sites Friday, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said. Tuesday's strike targeted only one site, a fire-control radar that helps Iraq guide its missiles.

In the heaviest strike against Iraq in almost six months, U.S. and British warplanes bombed three air defense installations south of Baghdad on Friday to punish President Saddam Hussein's government for increasing efforts to shoot down allied aircraft, the Pentagon said. About 20 warplanes took part in the raid, which Lt. Col. Steve Campbell, a Pentagon spokesman, said was "in response to recent Iraqi hostile acts."

Within hours after President Bush said the allied coalition would give Saddam Hussein until noon today to begin immediate and unconditional withdrawal from Kuwait, Soviet officials announced that President Mickail Gorbachev and Iraqi Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz had reached agreement on a new six-point plan for withdrawal from Kuwait.

Was it a blink, or a hoax? Is it the beginning of the end, or just more of the same? Is Iraqi President Saddam Hussein at long last ready for peace, for compliance with United Nations resolutions and for withdrawal from Kuwait? Or is there to be more war, more death, more tragedy?

Iraq will resume oil exports after a monthlong halt and has accepted the terms of a new Security Council resolution extending the U.N. "oil-for-food" program, Iraq's ambassador said Thursday. But although Mohammed Douri said that "everything will be normalized," Iraq did not sign off on a memorandum of understanding extending the humanitarian food program for five months.

Seeking to end an impasse, the United States, Britain, France and Russia have reached a tentative agreement to put off for up to six months a United Nations decision on restructuring sanctions against Iraq, a senior Bush administration official said Wednesday. Iraq's current oil-for-food program, due to expire June 3, will be temporarily extended, primarily to give Russia a chance to scrutinize a proposed new list of banned items, the official said. The extension, to be put in the form of a U.N.