France's de Villepin begins African tour to win UN support on Iraq

Agence France-Presse | March 10, 2003

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LUANDA (AFP) - French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin arrived in Angola on a lightning tour of the three African nations on the UN Security Council to win support for France's position on Iraq.

De Villepin is to meet President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos before heading off to Cameroon and Guinea later Monday as France rallies support to block a UN resolution that would authorise the use of force against Baghdad.

He is expected to tell leaders of the three nations that there is little point in backing the US-British-Spanish resolution as France will be sure to use its veto on the Council to block it in any case.

The proposed resolution would give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein until March 17 to disarm, after which military action would become inevitable, and Washington is believed to want a vote on Tuesday.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Sunday that a French veto to block Council approval for military action against Iraq could seriously damage relations between the two countries.

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He is expected to tell leaders of the three nations that there is little point in backing the US-British-Spanish resolution as France will be sure to use its veto on the Council to block it in any case.

So what have they to gain by joining France?

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So what have they to gain by joining France?

And what do they stand to lose by opposing the U.S.?

As they hear our warnings to France against vetoing the resolution, they should consider their own future relations with us. We will remember their votes long after they have left the Security Council.. I just checked the membership terms of the non-permanent members -

Guinea, Mexico, Syria, Bulgaria and Cameroon - Term ends December 31, 2003

Germany, Pakistan, Spain, Angola, Chile - Term ends December 31, 2004