China backs French call to boost UN inspectors

The Financial Times ^ | February 12, 2003 | Robert Graham, James Harding, and Mark Turner

[MadIvan]

Divisions in the UN Security Council deepened on Tuesday as China joined the ranks of members calling for a boost to Iraqi weapons inspections, and France set out in detail what a strengthened inspections regime might involve.

The French proposals could see the five permanent members of the Security Council split three to two when they next meet to discuss the issue on Friday.

US officials said the Bush administration would block moves to extend the weapons inspections, and Britain dismissed the idea as irrelevant. But with Russia broadly in favour, the US and Britain could find themselves in a minority.

Jacques Chirac, French president, also appeared confident that his round of consultations among the non-permanent members gave "the pro-inspection camp" a majority in the Security Council ahead of the crucial report on Friday by Hans Blix, UN chief weapons inspector.

Mr Blix reiterated in New York that the number of inspectors was not the principal problem. However, he added that "it was a little bit short to call it a day" for the inspections process.

He welcomed Iraq's "more focused explanations on central issues like VX and anthrax" but said it had "better work fast to come up with new material". Baghdad's decision to allow U-2 flights was a sign of co-operation on process, but he wanted more co-operation on substance.

The French presidential office said Mr Chirac had conferred by telephone with Jiang Zemin, the Chinese leader. "Like several of their partners [at the UN], France and China are in favour of a continuation and a reinforcement of the [UN] inspectors in the context of [November's] resolution 1441 so as to give every chance for the peaceful disarmament of Iraq," the French statement said.

Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, questioned the merit of increasing the number of inspectors. A State Department official said the US intended to block the initiative.

At the same time, US and British officials are working on drafts of a second resolution to authorise the use of force against Iraq.

The most contested issue in the drafting of a second resolution is likely to be around the question of "serious consequences". Officials think the US and the UK could rally support for a resolution that deems Iraq in "material breach" of UN resolution 1441, which required Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi leader, to disarm or face "serious consequences".

• Nato was plunged into an ever deeper crisis on Tuesday night, writes Judy Dempsey in Brussels, after France, Belgium and Germany again refused to lift a veto that would allow planners to bolster Turkey's defence in case of an attack from Iraq.

  All three countries have said repeatedly they still want to explore all diplomatic options through the UN, although German officials in Europe admit that the longer this crisis continues, the greater the risk of the alliance - and Berlin - losing credibility in US eyes.

  George Robertson, Nato secretary general, had sought to meet some of Belgium's concerns. Louis Michel, Belgium's maverick foreign minister, said on Tuesday he opposed one of the original US requests for "backfilling".

  The plan was that Nato countries would make up for any US or British troops that would be moved from the Balkans to the Gulf.

[Lion's Cub]

Personally, I hope they are still working on that resolution when our troops enter Baghdad.