Fischer Remains Committed to Peaceful Solution

Fischer, with the words from U.S. President George W. Bush's latest speech still ringing in his ears, says he still sees no reason to abandon the U.N. weapons inspection progrman in Iraq and to replace it with a U.S.-led invasion force.

"Iraq must disarm. It has vowed to do so," Fischer said in a television interview that followed Bush's primetime news conference on Thursday evening. "The way is the inspections, and we want to continue them."

Fischer (photo) spoke at a crucial point in the debate over a possible U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Shortly before the interview, Bush promised during his news conference to rid Iraq of the "cancer" of Saddam Hussein after any military campaign.

And on Friday, chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix is to report for the third time on Iraq's compliance with the disarmament program. Blix is expected to say that after 3 1/2 months Saddam is cooperating but not fully complying with his disarmament obligations.

U.S. to seek new resolution

Such a report could open the way for the United States to demand that the deeply divided U.N. Security Council vote on a resolution authorizing a war. "We're days away from resolving this issue in the Security Council," Bush said during a news conference in Washington. "No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote. It's time for people to show their cards, let the world know where they stand when it comes to Saddam."

Fischer is among three leading members of the Security Council who oppose a potential war. The other two -- France and Russia -- have the power to veto the resolution because they are permanent members of the council. Germany is one of the 10 rotating members.

On Wednesday, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin indicated that France and Russia were willing to use their resolution-killing veto power to stop the U.S.-led effort. "We will assume our responsibilities. We are in complete agreement with the Russians," Villepin said.

Iraqis destroying missiles

Blix (photo) will issue his report six days after Iraq began destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles in response to an order issued by the weapons inspectors because tests indicated the missiles could fly farther than the 150 kilometers (93 miles) allowed under U.N. resolutions. Since Saturday, Iraq has destroyed about one-third of its 100 missile supply.

In light of such activity, Fischer said the inspections should continue."This clearly shows that the non-military means of disarmament have not been exhausted," Fischer said. "And we stand by this position."

Germany's position has created opposition in Europe as well. On Thursday evening, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder emerged from a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to say that the two remained split over the issue. "One could hardly expect anything else," Schröder said after the 25th German-Italian summit was held in Bremen.

The chancellor reasserted his position by rejecting any new Security Council resolution. "We think that we don’t need any second resolution at the moment," he said.

Italian leader wants new resolution

But Berlusconi stuck to his stated line and described a new resolution as "welcome." He also bemoaned what he described as Iraq’s lack of cooperation with weapons inspectors so far. Without full cooperation, "the results of the inspections would remain modest," he said.

Italy has long supported the hard line adopted by the United States, Great Britain and Spain on the Iraq question. Unlike Germany, Italy is not represented on the Security Council. Despite Italy's support for the United States position, Berlusconi opposes the deployment of his troops in a possible military strike against Iraq.

Protests against Berlusconi

About 1,000 people participated in a demonstration in Bremen against Berlusconi's visit on Thursday evening. Activists protested against a looming war against Iraq as well as against Berlusconi's judicial reform in Italy, from which the prime minister himself is believed to profit the most. The demonstrations in Bremen however passed without incident.