EU Leaders Seek to Mend Rift Over Iraq

Yahoo! News ^ | 2/17/03 | Paul Ames - AP

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BRUSSELS, Belgium -

European Union (news - web sites) leaders seeking to close a deep rift over Iraq agreed that force should only be used as a last resort, but could not completely resolve their differences on the prospect of war.

Painfully aware that their prolonged and acrimonious split is crippling the drive to give Europe a strong, united voice in world affairs, EU leaders held an emergency summit Monday and passed a joint declaration that was a balancing act between the two sides.

France and Germany continued to oppose any imminent military action against Baghdad. French President Jacques Chirac signaled he would use his veto on the U.N. Security Council to bloc a resolution authorizing war.

"There is no need for a second resolution today, which France would have no choice but to oppose," said Chirac.

Britain, the chief U.S. ally in Europe, stood by its call for a resolute threat of military action if Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) fails to cooperate fully with U.N. weapons inspections.

"We cannot be in a situation where Iraq refuses to comply and we do nothing," Blair said.

In the joint statement, those who support the U.S. stance went along with France and Germany's insistence that the U.N. weapons inspectors "must be given the time and resources that the U.N. Security Council believes they need."

However, in language likely to please Washington, they acknowledged that "inspections cannot continue indefinitely."

The EU statement also stressed that "war is not inevitable." But Germany, which has fiercely opposed any talk of military action, agreed that force could be "a last resort" and went along with a strong warning on the failure to disarm and cooperate with the U.N. inspectors.

"Iraq has a final opportunity to resolve this crisis peacefully," the declaration said. "The Iraq regime alone will be responsible for the consequences if continues to flout the will of the international community."

France and Germany have mustered support from Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Greece, Ireland and Luxembourg, while Spain, Italy, Denmark, Portugal and the Netherlands back Britain's hawkish line.

Concerned about the impact of the United Nations (news - web sites) if Washington decides to invade Iraq without backing from the Security Council, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) also cranked up pressure Baghdad.

"It is imperative that the Iraqi leadership understand the urgency and the gravity of the situation," Annan told reporters after addressing the EU summit.

If Iraq continues to defy demands for complete cooperation with the weapons inspectors, Annan warned "members of the Security Council will have to make a grim choice."

The EU leaders are under pressure from strong anti-war sentiment among voters who turned out in the millions to demonstrate around the continent at the weekend.

Belgium, an outspoken supporter of the European peace camp, drew heart from the protests.

"I salute the millions of citizens who have calmly protested, the best allies of our cause are those people," said Foreign Minister Louis Michel. "Europe of the people, of the citizens is not divided, it is united."