Posted on 03/10/2003 12:09:26 PM PST by My Favorite Headache
Bastard just said it...if we attack Iraq they are out as a partner on the war on terror.
From The Federalist....
LOL! YES!
So? Is that a reason to bring his country down? Whatever evidence exists in Iraq, I'm sure Chirac could have won an agreement from our government to ignore it if he had agreed to cooperate over this war.
Chirac must be scared to death of retaliation, because he knows what the have in their arsenal. I bet Paris is crawling with Iraqi spies. This will mean a safe haven in Paris for every terrorist in the world.
Idiot! The only ones blowing things up are Muslims. You can bet that no Muslim building is at risk, especially not any in France. Give me a break!
I wouldn't be at all surprised if we know exactly what's what with old Jacquie boy. Let the leaking continue. Drip...drip...
Camp Bondsteel is in Kosovo, not Bosnia...
STATEMENT BY SPOKESPERSON
http://www.iraqwatch.org/government/france/mfa/france-mfa-iraq-3-2-01.htm
< snip > Hubert Védrine spoke this morning with his Jordanian counterpart, Abdul Illah al-Khatib. The two ministers stated that they concurred in their analyses concerning the situation in the Middle East and the status of the peace process. The situation on the ground must be calmed and returned to normal as soon as possible. Options for renewed dialogue must be preserved under terms that are acceptable to both sides. We presented France's position, and that of the European Union, to the Jordanian Foreign Affairs minister, a position that was just made public at the last General Affairs Council and which calls for the lifting of the blocade on the territories, and the resumption of financial transfers. We also underscored the importance of renewed cooperation to improve security so that a minimum level of confidence between the two parties may be established. Bases for discussion must be defined that in some way take into account advances that have been made so far in the negotiations. Q: Did the ministers discuss Iraq, and the French position, in particular? It seems that there has been a change in the French position. During talks in recent days, Mr. Védrine has stopped insisting that Iraq cooperate before sanctions can be suspended or lifted. He is no longer demanding that Iraq accept weapons controls before the lifing of sanctions. In yesterday's Libération, he said that pre-conditions should not be made requiring Iraq to accept these controls before the sanctions regime is changed. Of course, Iraq is an important area for Jordan, as it is for France. But your question has to do with France's position, about which I would like to comment briefly. First of all, I believe that the international community is in a time of reflection. The United States and other members of the Security Council are re-thinking the situation. In times of reflection it is always useful to try to broaden our horizons, and it is especially necessary to do so in this case because the current situation does not meet any of our objectives. It is the people of Iraq who are suffering from the embargo, and at the same time the absence of controls is making it impossible to ensure that Iraq will not again become a threat to the region. And why is all this? The minister stated several times that the sanctions policy that has been followed until now is oriented toward the past. He said it should be replaced with a policy based on control and vigilance that is oriented toward the future. He also believes that the embargo on the importation of civilian goods should be lifted. Of course, the implementation of resolution 1284 would allow these objectives to be met, but we have not yet not been able to achieve this. In the meantime, the status quo is intolerable for the people of Iraq and counterproductive for the region's security. Thus we must continue to re-think our position, along with the other permanent members of the Security Council, leaving everything on the table. Of course, any solution that is found must respect international laws, and it is the role of the Security Council to ensure this. Q: Do you accept, or admit, that this phrase of the minister's constitutes a shift in your thinking, in the proposals you have made up until now? To my knowledge, this is the first time that such a statement has been made; I know of no other instance. Indeed, the minister believes that if we begin thinking about this now, but continue to state that Iraq must accept controls as a pre-condition to any change in the sanctions regime, we will never move forward. This is perhaps the first time that this statement has been made so straightforwardly by the minister, but we are in a process of ongoing reflection. As soon as we say that we must lift the embargo on all imports of civilian goods, because it serves no purpose now to maintain it, this means that the acceptance of controls cannot be a pre-conditionfor modifying the sanctions regime. Q: Is there a meeting of the minds between the new American administration and Mr. Védrine on the lifting of sanctions on civilian goods? I would prefer that you direct this question to the American administration. Q: But I am asking you this question following the meeting between Mr. Védrine and Mr. Powell that took place two days ago. I refer you to the statements made by the minister following this meeting. He said that new thinking is developing in the American administration; it is not our job to qualify this thinking. Interview given by Mr. Hubert Védrine to the "Libération" newspaper (Paris, 1 March 2001).
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