Only UN Security Council Able to Decide War on Iraq: Chirac

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 08, 2003

Only UN Security Council Able to Decide War on Iraq: Chirac

French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday reaffirmed that only the United Nations Security Council could made decisions on eventual military operations on Iraq.

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French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday reaffirmed that only the United Nations Security Council could made decisions on eventual military operations on Iraq.

In his New Year greeting speech to the entire diplomatic body of France, Chirac said France maintains "its full liberty of judgement" and France always considers the resort to force as the last solution.

"The international community will not resort to the use of force except as the last extremity when all other options are usedup," said Chirac.

He also stressed the necessity to preserve the "cohesion" of the international community as shown during the adoption with unanimity of the resolution 1441 on the disarmament of Iraq.

"The disarmament of Iraq is an obligation for the Middle East and the world. It is a problem of peace and collective security. We must resolve it collectively...The United Nations is the uniquelegitimate body (for this work)," said Chirac.

"Let's firmly reject the temptation of unilateral action. Avoidthe attitudes that would ruin the legitimacy of our action. Continue to have full confidence in the UN inspectors," he said.

The Iraqi authorities must understand that a last chance is presented for them to disarm in peace and "there exists no other way out but to cooperate actively and with all means with the UN inspection missions," said the French president.

Earlier in a speech to the French armies, Chirac ordered all French troops to "be prepared for all eventualities", hinting a possible war against Iraq.

The United States has threatened a war against Iraq if Iraq fails to comply with the resolution. France has always been opposed to unilateral American action in Iraq and insists that allmilitary operations must be decided by the United Nations.

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