EU backs diplomacy against Iraq (PRATS IN BRUSSELS ALERT)

BBC News ^ | August 31, 2002 | Oana Lungescu

[MadIvan]

European Union foreign ministers will try to tone down disagreements with the United States over Iraq and the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Saturday - the second day of their informal meeting in the Danish port of Elsinore.

They are expected to call again on Iraq to re-admit United Nations weapons inspectors, while agreeing with Washington that the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein represents a threat to regional stability.

The EU wants Washington to give diplomacy one more chance.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said there was overwhelming support for the demand that the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein should re-admit weapons inspectors unconditionally.

If that fails, EU diplomats insist that it is up to the UN Security Council to consider other measures.

Even Britain, America's closest ally in Europe, appears worried by Washington's growing determination to confront Iraq with or without a UN resolution, while French and German leaders have publicly opposed any unilateral US strike.

Everyone recognised what a threat to regional stability Saddam Hussein was, said the EU's external affairs commission Chris Patten, but it would take cool heads to plot the right way forward.

'Cooling the heat'

The ministers will also tackle controversial US requests for bilateral deals that would circumvent the newly created ICC, in an attempt to lower the temperature in the dispute.

"Foreign ministers will try to cool off the August heat", said one diplomat.

The European Commission reacted angrily earlier this month over Washington's insistence on concluding bilateral deals that would exempt Americans from ICC prosecution, arguing that they would fatally undermine the newly created court.

Danish Foreign Minister Perstig Moeller said he hoped to forge an agreement within the EU by the end of September that would respect the ICC while accommodating some of the Americans' concerns.

But privately, many believe that US pressure on its European partners is becoming intolerable, and may find the compromise hard to swallow.

[MadIvan]

Awwwww, little tiny EU ministers don't have the stomach to be all grown up now do they? What a bloody surprise. I'd say my heart bleeds for them, but then they might confuse me with someone who actually give's a rat's arse about what they think.

I hope Blair can hold his nerve. Siding with the EU, which has never shown resolution, virtue or character, is intolerable for a nation that should pride itself on it.

Regards, Ivan

[marvlus]

What happened? Did their 6-month leadership rotation schedule change recently? (sarcasm)

[MadIvan]

What happened? Did their 6-month leadership rotation schedule change recently? (sarcasm)

I believe you're referring to the rotating Presidency. There is a difference between the Presidency and actual "leadership". ;)

Regards, Ivan

[elfman2]

I'm sure we'll see EU concerns with an attack on Iraq restated from various venues quoting various spokesmen in various publications as breaking news over the next few months. Personally, I think it would only be news if they didn't express their concerns.

[Timm]

That court can be expected to be a vehicle for nothing other than the obstruction of the enforcement necessary for an international order of cooperation based on international law. When a nation like Iraq can not only defy U.N. resolution after resolution but then sue the nation that acts to enforce those resolutions we will have fully emascualated the Western nations.

This court, too, will also be a vehicle for the continued harrassment of America. That's part of the point, of course.