A rchive Date
[ 17-06-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ European Union ]
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[http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2003/06/16/112608-ap.html
EU will back war over weapons of mass destruction only when diplomacy fails
By BY ROBERT WIELAARD
Mon, June 16, 2003
LUXEMBOURG (AP) - The European Union said Monday it could accept going to war to stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction but only after exhausting all diplomatic means.
At a meeting, the EU foreign ministers issued a strategy paper in response to the significant differences in the run-up to the Iraq war between Washington and European capitals over how to deal with weapons of mass destruction.
Ideally, according to the strategy paper, war would need the approval of the United Nations Security Council. But the EU foreign ministers left open the question of whether approval was mandatory, saying the council "should play a central role."
Cristina Gallach, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana, said the reference to the role of the UN had been left intentionally ambiguous in order to satisfy all sides in the debate.
The paper says that, when diplomacy has failed, "coercive measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter and international law - sanctions, selective or global, interceptions of shipments and, as appropriate, the use of force - could be envisioned."
It suggested a multilateral approach to containing the spread of weapons of mass destruction through such steps as strengthening export controls, ensuring compliance with non-proliferation commitments and promoting close co-ordination with the United States.
"We will not go immediately to military action," Solana told reporters. "Many things have to be done before we go to the United Nations to see if measures are taken."
Although adopted by all 15 EU countries, it is not legally binding, leaving open the possibility of a repeat of the sort of transatlantic friction that preceded the Iraq war.
Britain and Spain - and, to a lesser extent, Denmark, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands - sided with Washington over the Iraq war, whereas German and France led an antiwar camp in Europe.
The United States and Britain cited the alleged presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to justify the war. No such weapons have been found yet. Most EU governments insisted diplomacy and arms inspections in Iraq be given more time.
"The EU is committed to the multilateral system," the strategy paper says, adding that the European Union will seek to bolster compliance with international treaties banning the production and use of weapons of mass destruction.
For these treaties to be credible they must be made more effective, the paper adds.
"This means working with those who share our interest in preventing proliferation. And it also means dealing with those who cheat," it said.
The paper - along with an action plan to give the fight against weapons of mass destruction greater priority in the EU's dealings with other countries - was approved on a day when the foreign ministers also debated Iran and allegations Tehran uses its nuclear energy program to make atomic weapons.
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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