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
Regards, Ivan
"It has never ceased to stand upright in the face of history and before mankind," he said
Sort of like the "standing upright" of the Vichy regime, eh? I seem to recall them being very cooperative with the SS in the rounding up of French Jews.
Yeah, they're "stand up" guys, all right. The only problem is, they goose-step when they stand up.
'Hardens' is fine, I suppose, but a native speaker of English might use 'congeals'.
Mark Steyn: It's not really about Saddam
To M. Chirac, Tony Blair is the odd man out, with his strange Anglo-Saxon hang-ups about the transatlantic alliance.
....Let Blair emerge from an Anglo-American war on Iraq with his worldview resoundingly confirmed, and it's possible that Europe will develop in ways that are not in France's interest.
....
Would love to hear your opinion!
"Nothing to see, Sergeant Major. Nothing much left to see, at any rate."
Regards, Ivan
Pray for GW and the Troops
You mean things like this?
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