Full text of joint declaration on Iraq by France, Germany and Russia

FT.com ^ | February 10, 2003 | France, Germany and Russia

[HAL9000]

The following is a translation of the full text of a joint declaration from Russia, Germany and France issued by French President Jacques Chirac on Monday after a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder on Sunday.

"Russia, Germany and France, in close coordination, reaffirm that disarming Iraq, in accordance with the relevant resolutions since U.N. Resolution 687, is the common objective of the international community and must be achieved as soon as possible.

"There is a debate on how this should be done. This debate must continue in the spirit of friendship and respect that characterises our relations with the United States and other countries. Any solution must be inspired by the principles of the United Nations charter as were recently quoted by the secretary-general Kofi Annan.

"U.N. Resolution 1441, adopted unanimously by the U.N. Security Council, provides a framework of which the potential has not yet been fully exploited.

"The inspections led by the U.N. Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have already produced results. Russia, Germany and France favour the continuation of the inspections and a substantial reinforcement of their human and technical capacities through all possible means and in liaison with the inspectors, in the framework of the U.N. resolution 1441.

"There is still an alternative to war. The use of force can only be considered as a last resort. Russia, Germany and France are determined to ensure that everything possible is done to disarm Iraq peacefully.

"For the inspections to be completed, it is up to Iraq to actively cooperate with the IAEA and the UNMOVIC. Iraq must fully accept its responsibilities.

"Russia, Germany and France note that the position they are expressing is similar to that of a large number of countries within the Security Council.

[Robert_Paulson2]

Russia, Germany and France are determined to ensure that everything possible is done to disarm Iraq peacefully.

---

up to and including war with the United States and the rest of Europe.... yes indeedy... and LOOK who is front lane on this... surprise surprise... the old soviet empire leader... russia. bet the commies in russia are dreaming sweet dreams tonight...

[Post Toasties]

The only reason that Sodamn has budged even the small amount he has is the imminent threat of US military action. There is no way the US will keep 200,000 troops on indefinite Mideast standby as the French, Germans, Belgians and Russians seem to want; it would never work and will have only the effect of tying up a significant part of the US military uselessly - Sodamn will soon renege on every small compromise he has made so far if he is not removed soon, and there is nothing in the plans of Old Europe that will do anything to keep him from continuing to rearm - in fact, they're anxious to sell him the means to do so.

There is just no practical reason for the US to pay serious attention to the hypocritical bloviations of these economically interested countries who simply want to extract the most economic and political capital they can from the Iraq situation. The US should get Sodamn out ASAP, by military invasion if necessary, and free both the Iraqi people and the US from what these countries want to turn into an international millstone around the US's neck with their unworkable proposals.