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France Will Veto
Resolution: Chirac
World at ‘Dangerous’ Point, Says Annan
President Jacques Chirac said Monday that France was prepared to veto the
US-backed resolution on Iraq if necessary, joining Russia in saying it would
vote against giving Saddam Hussein until March 17 to disarm. Chirac said in a
televised interview that France would vote against any resolution that contains
an ultimatum leading to war: "No matter what the circumstances we will vote
‘no.’" It was the first time Chirac explicitly said France would use its veto
power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council to block the United
States’ quest for world body approval for war. However, Chirac also indicated
the veto might not be needed because the resolution does not have the nine
Security Council votes needed for passage. "Tonight this resolution, which
carries an ultimatum ... does not have a majority of nine votes," Chirac said.
Asked whether he believed that voting against the resolution would seriously
damage relations with the United States, Chirac said "I am totally convinced of
the opposite."
Chirac said US President George W. Bush meant it when he declared a few days ago
that "France and Germany are our friends, and will continue to be." Chirac’s
statements came shortly after Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said Russia -
another veto-wielding Security Council member - would vote against the
US-British UN resolution. Although the Kremlin has consistently opposed war
against Iraq, there was wide speculation that it would ultimately choose to
abstain rather than vote against. "The latest (UN weapons) inspectors’ report
confirms that there is no need to change" the inspection program currently
underway in Iraq, Chirac said. In the Hague, meanwhile, UN chief Kofi Annan
warned Monday that the world is at a "dangerous point of division and discord"
over Iraq, but said everyone was agreed that Saddam Hussein must disarm. Annan
said Iraq’s disarmament was "the most urgent issue" facing the UN Security
Council, as Saddam had used weapons of mass destruction in the past. "On this
critical issue there are no grounds for doubt, dispute, or delay," he said.
Annan also warned Washington on Monday that without UN Security Council
backing-a war to disarm Iraq would be short on legitimacy and violate the world
body’s charter. Annan pleaded for unity ahead of a Security Council vote due
this week on a new draft resolution authorizing war against Iraq. The United
Nations had to exhaust every avenue to achieve disarmament by peaceful means
before resorting to war, he said. "The members of the Security Council are now
faced with a grave choice," Annan told a news conference. "If they fail to agree
on a common position and action is taken without the authority of the Security
Council, the legitimacy and support for any such action would be seriously
impaired." "If, on the other hand, they can come together, even at this late
hour, to address this threat in a united manner and ensure compliance with the
previous resolutions, then the Council’s authority will be enhanced and the
world will be a safer place." "If the US and others were to go outside the
Council and take military action it would not be (in) conformity with the (UN)
charter," said Annan, who was in The Hague for peace talks to reunite Cyprus.
The United States, Britain and Spain have proposed a UN resolution that sets a
March 17 ultimatum for Iraq to comply fully with UN demands that it give up its
suspected chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. Iraq denies having such
weapons. Britain said on Monday it may modify the draft resolution to try to
gain a critical mass of support on the Security Council. Foreign Secretary Jack
Straw said London and Washington could set out a list of detailed disarmament
moves for Saddam Hussein to fulfill by March 17 if he is to avoid war, and
officials said that deadline could be extended a little. Meanwhile,
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei
said Monday that a dramatic disarmament gesture is required from Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein to avert war. "What we are asking for is a dramatic and
fundamental change in spirit and substance," ElBaradei told the London-based
Al-Hayat daily in an interview. The delegation of Arab foreign ministers,
expected in Baghdad Tuesday, is to pass this message to Saddam, ElBaradei said.
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