De Villepin believes inspections should be continued
Posted on 02/14/2003 12:12:37 PM PST by MadIvan
De Villepin believes inspections should be continued |
European nations who oppose a rush to military action against Iraq have responded confidently to a report by United Nations weapons inspectors to the Security Council.
In a speech which drew a rare show of applause from many in the chamber, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said that inspections were making progress and should be given more time to succeed.
Considering that the audience consisted of representatives of some of the foulest dictatorships on the face of the earth, that is hardly a ringing endorsement - Ivan
The option of inspections had not been taken to its conclusion, he said, adding that force could only be used as a last resort.
Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov also called for more time for inspections, saying that substantial progress had been made and this could not be discounted.
Mr Ivanov was also applauded, prompting council chairman Joschka Fischer to call the chamber to order.
Not in a timely fashion, one presumes - Ivan
The United Kingdom and Spain, who have backed United States calls for military action in the event of Iraqi non-compliance, said the threat of force was still necessary.
UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the UN had to keep its nerve and ensure that Iraq fully complied with its obligations.
Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio made the point that the inspectors had not said Baghdad was co-operating fully and unconditionally.
The ministers' speeches followed reports by chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Authority chairman Mohammed ElBaradei.
Both reports mentioned developments which the inspectors say could indicate a more co-operative approach by Iraq.
Alternative to war
The BBC's John Sopel in Paris says Mr de Villepin was emboldened by the reports, and gave a carefully crafted speech designed to answer his critics head on.
"France believes ... the option of inspections has not been taken to the end," he said, "...and the use of force would be so fraught with risk that it could only be envisioned as a last resort."
"There is an alternative to war, disarming Iraq through inspections," he added.
This shows a fundamental and willful ignorance on the part of France - Iraq is already supposed to be disarmed. The inspectors are just supposed to verify this. Any breach in this, is an indication that Iraq has broken the terms by which the Gulf War was ended - Ivan
Mr de Villepin also described France as "an old country" from a continent which had known "wars, occupation and barbarity".
"It has never ceased to stand upright in the face of history and before mankind," he said. "It wishes resolutely to act with all the members of the international community."
The snickering about France "standing upright in the face of history" is still continuing, I take it. After all, they're playing the role of Saddam's favourite goat right now, all tarted up in garters - Ivan
His remarks were intended as a response to United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who described France and Germany as "the old Europe".
'Sufficient majority'
Earlier on Friday, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder repeated his opposition to military action.
Mr Schroeder said the foreign ministers of France, Russia and Germany would present a common position after the reports were made.
Speaking after a meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson, he said he hoped there would be a "sufficient majority" in support of the view.
The comments came as Austria, a neutral country which broadly supports the French and German position, withdrew permission for US troops and equipment to transit across its territory.
Austrian Defence Minister Herbert Scheibner said the ban would remain in force unless there is a second Security Council resolution on Iraq.
It means that US troops based in Germany will have to be taken to Italy for transfer to the Gulf region.
Regards, Ivan
Screw'em!!!!!!
They want to act like they do, they should understand there is a price to be paid, and that price is that we won't have anything to do with them, much to their impoverishment.
Regards, Ivan
Did someone say cheese eating surrender monkeys?
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All are produced by Interbrew, Belgium's largest brewer and one of its largest companies.
Regards, Ivan
1. as target for US planes.
2. to rescue Sadam Hussain
3. to scare away fish with the noise of their cranky washing machines (as if the french have a use for these....?)
4. they can't see where they are going because of frosted up windows...(thinking they were on a day trip to Calais)
5. to see how far they can go before the prop drops off
6. They can launch planes but not receive them because the flight deck is too short (need to be near land)
7. all of the above
That's most childish and irresponsible thing I've ever heard.
That's most childish and irresponsible thing I've ever heard.
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