Spain confident about new UN resolution on Iraq

Xinhua News Agency ^ | March 11 2003

[knighthawk]

MADRID, Mar. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The Spanish government expressed on Monday its confidence that the United Nations Security Council will approve the new resolution on Iraq.

Ramon Gil, Spanish Foreign Affairs Secretary of State, told local media that it was not desirable for France to exercise its veto and he was confident that military action against Iraq would be legitimized with 10 or 11 votes in the Security Council.

He added that if France uses its power of veto, the situation in Kosovo in 1999 will be repeated, when Russia used its veto power yet the international community still decided to intervene.

"We wouldn't like to proceed in the present crisis with the opposition of one of the members of the Security Council, but there are precedents," he added.

Gil expressed his confidence that the new resolution promoted by the United States, Britain and Spain will obtain the nine votes needed to pass in the Security Council.

The official noted that Spain will accept modification of the text as long as it does not affect the contents.

The 15 members of the Security Council are expected to vote late this week on the draft resolution put forward by the US, Britain and Spain, which requires Iraq to comply with UN demands to disarm or face military action.

The resolution needs at least nine votes and no veto from any permanent member in order to pass.

Of the five permanent members, France, Russia and China are opposed to war. Russia and France announced on Monday that they will veto the new resolution.

[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[RobFromGa]

bump for Spain-- thanks to them for standing with us.

[aristeides]

He added that if France uses its power of veto, the situation in Kosovo in 1999 will be repeated, when Russia used its veto power yet the international community still decided to intervene.

At last a political figure points out the Kosovo parallel that the DemocRATs seem determined to ignore.

[aristeides]

Clinton's bombing of Iraq in Dec. '98 also was unable to get explicit authorization in the Security Council.

[SeattleTiger]

Does anyone know of a site with a list of resolutions from the UN Security Council that have been vetoed but the veto was then ignored, a la Kosovo? Just curious. I will do the footwork, if one does not exist. I'd like to see who has done what when this august body has failed to agree in the past.

Also curious who introduced each of the raft of resolutions condemning Israel we have vetoed in the past twenty years. Since the votes were pretty definitively anti-Israel each time, the point may be moot. But I'd like to know who drove the resolutions nonetheless.

[RobFromGa]

The UN is not worth the research. It will be in history's dustbin of discarded lies shortly.

If you want to help, they are soliciting epitaphs for the UN memorial gravestone.

Such as "We Came. We Saw. We Dialoged" or "We Tried to Be Relevant" or "America Stabbed Us in The Back".

[Avenger21]

if you ask me I think Bush needs to just drive into Iraq and start attacking. After the UN sees we are serious they will most likely change their minds about using their veto power.

[aBootes]

The official noted that Spain will accept modification of the text as long as it does not affect the contents.

Perhaps this is diplo-speak for "you're not changing a dang thing?"

[Avenger21]

I think that's what they really mean.

[what i think]

hi RobFromGa, they are standing with us now but have said they won't go without un backing, same as the brits.
thats..

[Avenger21]

I think a good idea to get the un to be with us is to offer them all oil fields. But of course with bush that probably won't happen.

[dixiechick2000]

Big bump for Spain and Aznar.

He's taking quite some heat...a la Blair. I admire both men greatly.