Posted on 05/03/2003 8:03:40 AM PDT by knighthawk
KASTELLORIZO, Greece (Reuters) - European Union president Greece challenged its partners on Saturday to consider backing the use of force as a last resort against "irresponsible nations" that build weapons of mass destruction.
Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou raised the sensitive issue on how to deal with states developing nuclear, chemical and biological weapons at a meeting of EU foreign ministers, several of whom opposed the U.S.-led war on Iraq.
"Weapons of mass destruction and their proliferation are probably as historically destabilizing as the invention and spread of gunpowder," Papandreou said, according to speaking notes obtained by Reuters.
"If our efforts at peaceful enforcement do not work, are we willing to establish a doctrine for the use of force?" he asked.
He was addressing a working session of the 25 current and future EU member states aboard a luxury cruise liner, moored in the natural harbor of this tiny Greek island, 800 m (874 yards) off the coast of Turkey.
The ministers agreed on the first day of informal talks in Rhodes on Friday to put differences over Iraq behind them and seek a common assessment of new threats.
Papandreou's comments underlined how far the EU has been pushed to review its aversion to military action by Washington's aggressive stance on so-called "rogue states."
The United States attacked Iraq, accusing it of hiding weapons of mass destruction. So far, none of the suspected weapons has been found, although numerous suspicious sites are being tested.
Papandreou urged the ministers to consider what the bloc would do, for example, if Iran were to develop a nuclear bomb.
"Our choices at present seem to be either to conduct polite conversations which rarely work or to accept the logic that leads to pre-emptive use of force," he said.
DIFFERENCES ON IRAN
Stronger international verification and new legislation to enforce arms control offered a potential alternative way.
"The reality is that we usually end up dealing with governments that are brutal and undemocratic. We apply sanctions but they still find the money to develop WMD," he said.
Analysts say Iran is potentially the next point of friction between Washington, seeking to isolate and pressure Tehran over its nuclear program, and the EU, which believes in engagement and is negotiating a trade agreement with Iran.
EU officials said they were pressing the Iranians to accept more intrusive international inspections of what Tehran insists is a peaceful nuclear research effort. Washington says the Islamic republic is masking a drive to produce atomic weapons.
The issue of weapons of mass destruction is at the heart of a debate over whether the EU needs a joint strategy to avoid future damaging diplomatic splits like the Iraq fiasco.
"What Iraq has brought out is other deeper issues. I think we are in urgent need of a European strategic concept. We must assess and agree on the threats that exist," said Papandreou.
He called for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana to be mandated to draw up such a plan for the bloc, set to expand from 15 to 25 members next May.
Several ministers from countries with strong neutral or pacifist tendencies expressed unease at the idea of developing a doctrine that could involve the use of force.
"Sooner or later we'll have to deal with it but perhaps not now," Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moeller told reporters.
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said it should be possible to develop a European security strategy for the 21st century, but evaded questions about the use of force.
Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh said there was a growing threat of chemical and biological weapons falling into the hands of well-organized terrorist networks unless effective export control mechanisms and inspections were implemented.
"We do not shy away from using force when justified and necessary, but it shouldn't be the first option," Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja told Reuters.
If people want on or off this list, please let me know.
...or the 15th option, or the 16th option...
It is only an option AFTER the US finishes the task.
I hope they choose wisely.
Nice find, knighthawk.
Mostly from gun and drug running, slavory and the UN. UN 'enforced' sanctions are a guaranteed way to put cash INTO the pockets of dictators while civilians suffer.
Papandreou makes a strong case, but he's also in favor of an EU standing army and for keeping Yasser as lead terrorist in the PA territories. Yasser may be a familiar face, but the old goat has far too much blood under his bridges to be useful for any meaningful Mideast peace. He will always play both sides against the middle and keep terrorism alive. He's a Saddam mini-me. His goal is to 'free' some fictitious country called 'Palestine' from the Israelis.
"If our efforts at peaceful enforcement do not work, are we willing to establish a doctrine for the use of force?" he asked.
Hmmm, are they having second thoughts?
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