Home>>World
Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 24, 2003

US Tightens War Threats against Iraq Despite Peace Calls from Mideast States

The United States expressed its confidence on Thursday that its military strikes against Iraq willbe joined by many nations, while some Middle East states called for a peaceful solution to the standoff.


PRINT DISCUSSION CHINESE SEND TO FRIEND


The United States expressed its confidence on Thursday that its military strikes against Iraq will be joined by many nations, while some Middle East states called for a peaceful solution to the standoff.

US Does not Worry about Going Along on Iraq
US Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday that the United States does not worry about going it alone in carrying out military actions against Iraq because many countries will join the US-led war.

"I don't think we'll have to worry about going it alone ... AndI'm quite confident if it comes to that we'll be joined by many nations," Powell said in a joint media appearance at the State Department with visiting British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

Powell made the remarks responding to questions about how the United States will deal with strong opposition from some European countries like France and Germany to US military actions against Iraq.

"Many nations have already expressed a willingness to serve in a coalition of the willing," he claimed.

Powell said that if the Iraq issue can not be solved peacefully and the United Nations fails to act, the United States "reserves the right to do what it thinks is appropriate to defend its interest."

He said the United States is looking forward to the report to be presented by UN weapons inspectors on Jan. 27 to the UN Security Council with respect to Iraq's compliance with the requirements of Security Council Resolution 1441.

He also stressed that the resolution gives Iraq "one last opportunity" to come into compliance with its obligations under various previous UN resolutions.

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage reiterated on Thursday that the United States does not need another UN resolution to wage a war against Iraq.

"We believe there is sufficient authority to move now without a second resolution," Armitage, who was in Moscow for talks primarily on US-Russian cooperation in counter-terrorism, told the Echo Moskvy radio.

He denied reports that the United States was ready to start the war in mid-February, saying President George W. Bush has not yet made a final decision on whether to go to war. The president is holding consultations with allies, he said.

Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair are scheduled to meet at the US presidential retreat in Camp David, Maryland, on Jan. 31.

NATO, Britain Downplay Rift over Decision on Iraq
Secretary-General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) George Robertson on Thursday downplayed the growing rift within the alliance over providing support for possible US-led military operations against Iraq.

There was no disagreement within NATO on substance, he said at a press conference in Brussels after France and Germany had blocked a NATO consensus on Iraq on Wednesday, one week after the US government formally asked the military alliance for military help in a possible war.

Robertson added that it was only a problem of timing, noting that NATO would surely reach consensus on the issue and stand by Turkey in case of war.

France and Germany maintain that UN arms inspectors in Iraq should be given more time to search for banned weapons and are opposed to rushing into military action at this time.

US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld described the two countries as "problems" in the crisis over Iraq, sparking angry responses from leaders of the two European countries.

British Foreign Secretary Straw, who was on a visit to the United States, said in Washington Thursday neither Britain nor the United States have made a decision about military actions against Iraq.

Straw, whose country is a staunch supporter of the Bush administration's policy on Iraq, also played down the differences on Iraq between the United States and some European countries, in particular France and Germany.

"What I know about (Resolution) 1441 was that it was supported actively by France," Straw recalled, saying France voted for it and was involved in the negotiations.

"I also know, because I was in the room when it happened, that Germany fully supported the terms of 1441, including explicitly its final paragraph saying that Iraq would have to accept serious consequences from a failure to comply," he added.

Mideast States Approve Istanbul Declaration
Foreign ministers from six Middle East nations approved a joint declaration on Iraq on Thursday night at the end of a day-long meeting held in Istanbul, Turkey.

The declaration urged Iraq to show "more active" cooperation with UN arms inspectors and embark on policies to inspire confidence in its neighbors.

It noted, "The specter of war in Iraq is looming large. The countries of this region do not wish to live through yet another war and all its devastating consequences. War should not become an option to resolve this crisis."

The declaration called for the involvement of the United Nations in solving the Iraqi crisis, saying UN involvement in the process "must be full, inclusive and persistent," which "must also be in full recognition of the need to fulfill the objectives of the ongoing (UN) inspections (in Iraq)."

"The Iraqi issue is a multilateral one, first and foremost affecting the whole region," the declaration said, adding, "We agree that this initiative in Istanbul by the regional countries is a process that has as its immediate objective the peaceful solution of the crisis in Iraq."

"We request Iraq ... to demonstrate a more active approach in providing Iraq's inventory of information and material concerning her capabilities of weapons of mass destruction," it said.

The ministerial-level meeting, attended by foreign ministers from Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey, was initiated by Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul in a bid to solve the Iraq crisis peacefully.

Arab and Muslim countries have tried to work out a common vision against war, with many fearing that a war could lead to the breakup of Iraq and spread ethnic conflict to neighboring countries.


Questions?Comments? Click here
    Advanced






Iraq Issue--Severe Test to EU: Analysis

Six-nation FMs Approve Istanbul Declaration on Iraq

China Worried about Military Concentration in Gulf Area





>> Full Coverage

 


Beijing to Cancel 'Hotels for Hosting Foreign Visitors' ( 4 Messages)

Chinese Bid Farewell to Outworn Doctrine of Egalitarianism ( 10 Messages)

Can US Strategic Intention be Realized? ( 23 Messages)

How's US$52.7bn Foreign Investment Introduced Into China? ( 14 Messages)

Bush Rejects China Mechanical Device Import Quota ( 12 Messages)

Foreign Museums Refuse to Return Cultural relics, Chinese Experts in Action ( 11 Messages)



Copyright by People's Daily Online, all rights reserved