Chirac Reaffirms France's Rejection to Ultimatum on Iraq

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, March 15, 2003

Chirac Reaffirms France's Rejection to Ultimatum on Iraq

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French President Jacques Chirac on Friday reaffirmed that France rejects the ultimatum or automaticity of resort to force on Iraq during a telephone conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Chirac "took the initiative to call the British prime minister and reminded him of the proposals made by France at the Security Council on March 7 and told him that we are ready to work together for the disarmament of Iraq within the logic of resolution 1441," said Chirac's spokeswoman Catherine Colonna.

"We cannot accept an ultimatum or the automatic recourse to force. Before any decision the inspectors must come back before the UN Security Council to make their report and it is up to the council to decide," she said.

France was "ready to study the criteria for disarmament on the basis of the program that the inspectors will present," she added.

Chirac and Blair agreed that their foreign ministers Dominique de Villepin and Jack Straw will contact on the Iraqi issue, said the spokeswoman.

When asked about Blair's reaction at Chirac's proposition, Colonna answered: "It is up to Britain to express its point of view."

Unlike Britain, France has always called for reinforced UN weapons inspections in Iraq as an alternative to war. It vowed veto a new resolution drafted by the Untied States, Britain and Spain that would trigger war.

On Thursday, France rejected British proposals for six disarmament conditions for Saddam Hussein, arguing that they were a disguised form of ultimatum, which led to a sharp deterioration in cross-channel relations. Blair's spokesman accused France of "poisoning" diplomacy.

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