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US & France on the brink of agreement on Iraq resolution
United Nations, Nov 1: The United States and France appeared on the brink of agreement on a UN resolution that would allow weapons inspectors to test Iraq`s cooperation before any possible military action.
United Nations, Nov 1: The United States and France
appeared on the brink of agreement on a UN resolution that would
allow weapons inspectors to test Iraq's cooperation before any
possible military action.
But diplomats said yesterday that differences were still crucial
enough for the Bush administration to postpone calls for a vote
until after Tuesday's mid-term elections or run the risk of failure.
''It is looking better than it ever was,'' said one Western
diplomat closely involved in the negotiations. ''There is a
small ravine left but it is still 400 feet deep.''
He said language was being exchanged among capitals of the key players as well as in New York on the resolution that gives UN inspectors license to search anywhere for Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction and threatens ''serious consequences'' if Baghdad balks. The United States and Britain have said they would make several changes in a revised resolution next week, taking on board some suggestions 15 council members have made.
''The United States and the United Kingdom need to absorb the results of the last three meetings,'' Britain's UN ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock said. ''We are taking into account what we've learned.''
The full council has not scheduled another meeting for this week but Syria has invited the 10 rotating security council members to a meeting with chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix to hear about his session with President George W. Bush and others in Washington on Wednesday.
A resolution in the 15-nation council needs a minimum of nine votes in favor for adoption and no veto from its five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
Bureau Report
He said language was being exchanged among capitals of the key players as well as in New York on the resolution that gives UN inspectors license to search anywhere for Iraq's suspected weapons of mass destruction and threatens ''serious consequences'' if Baghdad balks. The United States and Britain have said they would make several changes in a revised resolution next week, taking on board some suggestions 15 council members have made.
''The United States and the United Kingdom need to absorb the results of the last three meetings,'' Britain's UN ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock said. ''We are taking into account what we've learned.''
The full council has not scheduled another meeting for this week but Syria has invited the 10 rotating security council members to a meeting with chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix to hear about his session with President George W. Bush and others in Washington on Wednesday.
A resolution in the 15-nation council needs a minimum of nine votes in favor for adoption and no veto from its five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.
Bureau Report