Security Council Further Divided with Challenging Drafts from France, Russia

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, October 26, 2002

Security Council Further Divided with Challenging Drafts from France, Russia

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With separate "non-paper" drafts suggested by France and Russia standing up as challengers, the UN Security Council was further divided as its 15 members on Friday resumed consultation on Iraq to discuss the US draft seeking tougher weapons inspection regime.

The so-called "non-paper" draft is an official document less formal than a "working document," which could be transferred to a draft resolution, according to a UN spokesperson.

Although less formal, the challenging "draft-to-be" prepared by France and Russia were widely seen as surprise moves. France has previously pledged, for the unity of the council, not to formally table its own draft favoring two-step solution to have the Iraqi will for cooperation tested on the ground before authorizing actions.

Diplomat close to the meeting said the redrafts would significantly water-down a revised US draft which dropped "automatic use of force" but insisted on "military escort" and "doing interview outside."

The French text deleted several paragraphs from the US draft which were seen as "hidden triggers" for military action, according to the diplomat. "French proposal is more moderate than the Russian one, and may server as a bridge," he told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The French recalled "the objective of the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the region of the Middle East," which also covers Israel, according to excerpts obtained by Xinhua.

It also reiterated the commitment of all member states "to the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Iraq, Kuwait and other neighboring counties."

The French text trimmed the part for working procedure in the US draft, to make it "more practical and possible for implementation," the diplomat said. It killed the wording for "material breach of obligations" and omitted the seven-day deadlinefor Iraq to declare acceptance.

Besides those cutting-offs, it added some content and recalled a paragraph in resolution 1284 of 1999 regarding the conditions for suspending sanctions imposed on Iraq following its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

France informally circulated the text during the resumed council meeting, "apparently with the same purpose as the US to grab more support from other council members," the diplomat said.

The US called a full council meeting on Wednesday night to allow the 10 elected members joined in the discussion. The meeting suspended with no consensus reached.

The chief UN inspector, Hans Blix, is due to meet with council members on the coming Monday to have his voice heard. "His opinionon the working procedures could be of great importance for councilmembers who haven't determined," the diplomat said.

Meanwhile, Council President Martin Eboutou voiced optimism that a resolution would be passed without undue delay.

"We are in the process of conducting consultations," he told reporters outside the council's chamber during a noon break of theclosed meeting.

He added that he is "optimistic" because the members wanted to adopt a resolution in the coming week.

"In formulating a new resolution, the council aimed to both support and facilitate the work of UN weapons inspections mandated to operate in Iraq," he said.

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