Key members of the U.N. Security Council said Wednesday that the United States has so far failed to convince them that time has run out for a peaceful resolution to the crisis with Baghdad.
At a meeting a day after President Bush's State of the Union speech, 11 of the 15 members supported giving more time to weapons inspectors to pursue Iraq's peaceful disarmament, council diplomats told The Associated Press.
Calling for continued inspections were France, Russia and China, which all have veto power, as well as Germany, Mexico, Chile, Guinea, Cameroon, Syria, Angola and Pakistan. Only Bulgaria and Spain backed the United States and Britain in focusing on Iraq's failures rather than the inspections process.
In Washington, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said diplomacy was in its "final phase."
At the daylong Security Council meeting, held behind closed doors, Britain remained squarely in Washington's camp. "There are members of the council who are asking for time, but it isn't a matter of time. It's a matter of whether Iraq realizes that the game is up, or whether it is trying to keep the inspectors at bay," British Ambassador Jeremy Greenstock said during a break in the meeting.
"The majority of the council thinks we should continue inspections," said French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere. "This is what they think today, and I think it is important to say so." On his part, Russian Ambassador Sergey Lavrov said Russia wanted "undeniable proof" that Iraq was rearming, and he dismissed reports that Moscow was shifting to a more pro-American stance.
Still, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte warned that the "the time for decision-making is fast approaching." He said the United States would conduct intense negotiations, both at the United Nations and between capitals, ahead of the special Feb. 5 council meeting where Colin Powell is due to present evidence of Iraq's secret weapons programs and links to terrorist groups.
Meanwhile, the leaders of eight European nations issued a joint call Thursday for unity with the United States in the battle to disarm Iraq, and warned the U.N. that its credibility is on the line.
In an article published in The Times newspaper, the leaders of Britain, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Denmark and the Czech Republic said that "our strength lies in unity."
The eight signatories to Thursday's article in the British newspaper argued that Monday's U.N. weapons inspectors report confirmed the Iraqi regime's long-established pattern of "deception, denial and noncompliance."
"The trans-Atlantic relationship must not become a casualty of the current Iraqi regime's persistent attempts to threaten world security," they wrote.
The Times said the joint appeal was suggested by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar. Aznar's office produced the draft statement, forwarding it to other leaders to read, amend and sign, the newspaper said.
"We must remain united in insisting that his regime is disarmed," they wrote. "The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are our best hope of achieving this peacefully."
The leaders said that U.N. resolution 1441 is Saddam's last chance to disarm peacefully and they tell the Security Council that its task is to preserve international peace and security by ensuring full compliance. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
