Germany, Others Oppose New Iraq Resolution
February 7, 2003
Germany, France and Russia, all members of the U.N. Security Council, spoke out in unison on Friday against President George W. Bush's call for a second resolution to reinforce demands that Saddam Hussein get rid of weapons of mass destruction.
"At this point, the German government sees no reason to approve a second resolution on this issue," a spokesman said in Berlin. Russia's foreign minister, Igor Ivanov, made similar comments in Moscow.
France, which like Russia holds decisive veto power on the Security Council, also opposes Bush on the issue. "The time has not come" for a second resolution, the French representative to the United Nations, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, said in New York.
France also is urging that U.N. weapons inspections in Iraq receive more time to carry out their mission and is clinging to hope for a diplomatic settlement.
The countries were responding to a call issued by President George W. Bush on Thursday. Signaling that war with Iraq is approaching, Bush said "the game is over" for Saddam Hussein and the United Nations should not permit itself to be "mocked by a dictator."
Britain is likely to introduce a resolution in the Security Council to authorize force to disarm Iraq after top weapons inspectors return from Baghdad and report to the council on Feb. 14, British and U.S. diplomats said Thursday.
"The U.N. must not back down," Bush said, reading a statement in the White House Roosevelt Room. "All the world can rise to this moment."
Germany is one of the rotating members on the council. German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder has said Germany would not join a war against Iraq and would vote against any U.N. resolution authorizing a war against Saddam.