A rchive Date
[ 18-09-2005 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.S ]
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[http://www.canoe.ca/CNEWS/iraqun_sep26-ap.html
U.S., Britain hammer out Iraq resolution
By BARRY SCHWEID - The Associated Press
Thursday, September 26, 2002
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States has reached agreement with Britain on a tough U.N. resolution on Iraq and will present a proposed text to Russia, France and China, the other permanent members of the Security Council, a senior administration official said Thursday.
Secretary of State Colin Powell telephoned French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin on Wednesday and called Foreign Ministers Igor Ivanov of Russia and Tang Jiaxuan of China on Thursday.
He also spoke Thursday to British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.
Winning over Russia, France and China to a tough resolution - one that threatens Iraq with consequences if it does not comply with UN demands for weapons inspections - could be difficult.
All these countries are inclined to take President Saddam Hussein up on his offer to admit weapons inspectors before threatening military action.
Powell, in his telephone diplomacy, and U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte and other American diplomats at the United Nations are open to other views on a text, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
But, it must demand Iraqi compliance and warn of grave consequences for ignoring past U.N. resolutions that sought disarmament.
The administration is convinced Iraq has hidden stockpiles of biological and chemical weapons and is pursuing a nuclear weapons program as well.
Powell may send Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman to Moscow and Paris for talks on a U.N. resolution.
French President Jacques Chirac has proposed two resolutions - one demanding unfettered international inspection of suspect weapons site and a second that would authorize force if Iraq defies the Security Council.
But the United States prefers a single resolution, the official said.
Within the administration "we've gone back and forth" with differences of opinion on a text there have been some differences of opinion in a text, the official said.
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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