U.S. and Britain Set to Introduce New Resolution on Iraq Today
By Reuters
Monday 24 February 2003
UNITED NATIONS - The United States and Britain intend to introduce a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Monday that would set the stage for war in Iraq by declaring Baghdad in breach of its obligations to disarm, council diplomats said.
Britain's U.N. ambassador, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, will make the formal introduction, which a spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he hoped would be voted on by mid-March, a signal there would be no invasion of Iraq before that time.
Getting approval will be difficult in face of opposition from France, Russia and China, who have veto power on the 15-member council.
So far only Spain and Bulgaria support the United States and Britain while the other nations have spoken in favor of France's position for continuing arms inspections or are uncomfortable in having to make a decision.
To counter the United States, French President Jacques Chirac's spokeswoman, Catherine Colona, said France would put forward proposals immediately for more intrusive inspections.
"There is no reason today to interrupt the inspections and go over to another logic that would lead to war," she said.
France earlier this month circulated proposals to Security Council members calling for a tripling of inspectors and U.N guards to "freeze" suspected weapons sites, and more spy plane overflights. These proposals are expected to be refined, probably in the form of an informal draft resolution.
The United States has been sending senior officials to lobby council nations. Two have already visited Mexico and another went to Africa to talk to officials in Angola, Cameroon and Guinea.
At the same time President Bush has been making telephone calls to his counterparts in various nations, including Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, whose government has publicly leaned toward the French position but is still undecided.
"It is true that President Bush called President Lagos, another thing is how you interpret that," a Chilean government spokesman said.
"Chile couldn't accept pressures because it has a sovereign and autonomous foreign policy," the spokesman added in Santiago. He said Chile would have to study the resolution.
On the other side, Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder were scheduled to meet on Monday evening in Berlin to discuss their strategy.
Before the resolution is adopted or rejected Iraqi President Saddam Hussein faces a test on whether or not he will destroy dozens of missiles by March 1 as ordered on Friday by chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix.
Destruction of the Al-Samoud 2 missiles, which have a range that exceeds U.N. limits, would be a blow to Iraq as it prepares for a possible invasion by U.S. forces.
If it does not destroy them, the United States and Britain could use this as proof Iraq is not cooperating with the United Nations and that war is justified.
Blix said Iraq's Al-Samoud 2 missiles exceeded by 20 miles the 90 mile range set by the U.N. Security Council in a 1991 resolution.
He ordered Iraq to destroy not only the missiles, but their SA-2 engines, auto-pilots, guidance and control systems, launchers, fuel, oxidizer, casting chambers, equipment and components designed for production and testing as well as software and research used to construct the missiles.
Blix plans to deliver on Monday and on Tuesday a list of more than 30 unresolved questions about Iraqi disarmament to his advisory board, called a College of Commissioners and composed of some 16 government officials and technical experts from around the world.
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)
By Reuters
Monday 24 February 2003
UNITED NATIONS - The United States and Britain intend to introduce a new U.N. Security Council resolution on Monday that would set the stage for war in Iraq by declaring Baghdad in breach of its obligations to disarm, council diplomats said.
Britain's U.N. ambassador, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, will make the formal introduction, which a spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he hoped would be voted on by mid-March, a signal there would be no invasion of Iraq before that time.
Getting approval will be difficult in face of opposition from France, Russia and China, who have veto power on the 15-member council.
So far only Spain and Bulgaria support the United States and Britain while the other nations have spoken in favor of France's position for continuing arms inspections or are uncomfortable in having to make a decision.
To counter the United States, French President Jacques Chirac's spokeswoman, Catherine Colona, said France would put forward proposals immediately for more intrusive inspections.
"There is no reason today to interrupt the inspections and go over to another logic that would lead to war," she said.
France earlier this month circulated proposals to Security Council members calling for a tripling of inspectors and U.N guards to "freeze" suspected weapons sites, and more spy plane overflights. These proposals are expected to be refined, probably in the form of an informal draft resolution.
The United States has been sending senior officials to lobby council nations. Two have already visited Mexico and another went to Africa to talk to officials in Angola, Cameroon and Guinea.
At the same time President Bush has been making telephone calls to his counterparts in various nations, including Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, whose government has publicly leaned toward the French position but is still undecided.
"It is true that President Bush called President Lagos, another thing is how you interpret that," a Chilean government spokesman said.
"Chile couldn't accept pressures because it has a sovereign and autonomous foreign policy," the spokesman added in Santiago. He said Chile would have to study the resolution.
On the other side, Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder were scheduled to meet on Monday evening in Berlin to discuss their strategy.
Before the resolution is adopted or rejected Iraqi President Saddam Hussein faces a test on whether or not he will destroy dozens of missiles by March 1 as ordered on Friday by chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix.
Destruction of the Al-Samoud 2 missiles, which have a range that exceeds U.N. limits, would be a blow to Iraq as it prepares for a possible invasion by U.S. forces.
If it does not destroy them, the United States and Britain could use this as proof Iraq is not cooperating with the United Nations and that war is justified.
Blix said Iraq's Al-Samoud 2 missiles exceeded by 20 miles the 90 mile range set by the U.N. Security Council in a 1991 resolution.
He ordered Iraq to destroy not only the missiles, but their SA-2 engines, auto-pilots, guidance and control systems, launchers, fuel, oxidizer, casting chambers, equipment and components designed for production and testing as well as software and research used to construct the missiles.
Blix plans to deliver on Monday and on Tuesday a list of more than 30 unresolved questions about Iraqi disarmament to his advisory board, called a College of Commissioners and composed of some 16 government officials and technical experts from around the world.
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)
