UN Security Council bitterly divided on Iraq
The United Nations Security Council remained bitterly divided today over pursuing peace or rushing to war in Iraq, with both sides going on the offensive before a key report from weapons inspectors.
While France, Russia and Germany called for more time yesterday for beefed-up inspections, the United States and Britain stood by their position that Saddam’s final opportunity to disarm peacefully was nearing an end.
Meanwhile, US president George Bush said the decision by France, Germany and Belgium to deny Turkey Nato protection against an Iraqi attack threatened to hurt the Western alliance.
He also accused Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein of ”trying to stall for time” by offering last-minute concessions.
France led the efforts to prevent Nato from planning for Turkey’s defence.
“Upset is not the proper word,” Bush said yesterday when reporters asked for his views on France’s diplomacy. “I am disappointed that France is willing to block Nato from helping a country like Turkey to prepare.
“I think it affects the alliance in a negative way when you’re not able to make a statement of mutual defence.”
Iraq sent a letter to UN inspectors agreeing to allow the use of American U-2 surveillance planes and pledged to pass laws next week outlawing the use of weapons of mass destruction – two demands which top inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei pushed for during their weekend trip to Baghdad.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan called the Iraqi acceptance “encouraging”.
“In fact, both Blix and ElBaradei said they are beginning to see ...a certain change in their attitude,” he said. But “we all have to wait for the report of the inspectors.”
Britain’s UN Ambassador, Jeremy Greenstock said Iraq’s letter showed ”there’s been some progress on procedure, but that doesn’t add up to the real change in Iraq’s attitude that we’re looking for.”
US President George Bush said after meeting Australian prime minister John Howard, another staunch US ally: “Saddam Hussein has to disarm. If he doesn’t, we will disarm him.”
On the opposing side, France, Russia and Germany issued a joint declaration in Paris calling for strengthened weapons inspections and more diplomacy.
“Nothing today justifies a war,” said French president Jacques Chirac. “This region really does not need another war.”
“We are against the war,” echoed Russian president Vladimir Putin, standing beside him. “Both of our countries insist on the need to solve the problem and the crisis diplomatically, and we consider that ... careless action could lead to unknown results.”
With the five veto-wielding council members divided, a showdown is almost certain in the security council.
US officials have made clear that Bush intends to use Friday’s report from the inspectors to force a decision from the council: back the US push to disarm Saddam or stand aside as he leads a coalition to do so. Britain is preparing a new resolution that would authorise force against a derelict Iraq, diplomats have said.
