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| Iraq |
| Russia will not abstain from UN vote |
| 2003-03-05 |
| Foreign ministers from anti-war powers France, Russia and Germany agreed on Wednesday not to allow a resolution authorizing war in Iraq to be passed in the United Nations Security Council. Did we ask for a resolution authorizing war? I think it just says that Iraq is in breach. "We will not allow the passage of a planned resolution which would authorize the use of force," he said after a meeting in Paris with his counterparts Igor Ivanov of Russia and Joschka Fischer of Germany. But will you admit they are in breach? "Russia and France as permanent security council members will fully assume all their responsibilities," he added at a joint news conference with Ivanov and Fischer. What does that mean, Fully assume responsibilities? Yes? No? or Veto? Asked whether France was ready to use its right of veto to block a U.N. resolution giving the green light for force in Iraq, Villepin added: "We are totally on the same line as Russia." Hmm..still didn't answer the question as to exactly what line they are on AND note he left out Germany. Ivanov said in London on Tuesday Moscow would not abstain on the resolution, which the United States and Britain may introduce next week, and warned it could use its veto power. Okaaay..so Russia won't abstain, that's clear. As for the veto, they MIGHT use your veto which means they MIGHT not. Ivanov also said that China, another veto-wielding Security Council member which last month supported a memo by the three anti-war powers urging more inspections, "shares our approach" on the Iraq crisis. Yeah, they share your approach, but like Germany, he's worming around stating how China plans to vote on our proposal. Villepin said all three would travel to New York for the meeting. "The three foreign ministers want to coordinate their next steps," ... The other two veto powers, the United States and Britain, have drawn up a memo with rotating member Spain to declare Iraq in breach of U.N. resolutions to disarm. See, it doesn't say, "allow a resolution authorizing war in Iraq". Can't these guy's read? Diplomats in Paris said France, Russia and Germany wanted to ensure they agreed on their common position at a time when Washington seemed to be preparing for an attack and was putting heavy pressure on Security Council members to support its pro-war resolution. Sounds like they are afraid US has the votes to pass the resolution and they joining forces to do damage control. I suspect there is much dissention on what that "common position" is. The wording of the resolution won't change between now and then — so why so much diplospeak? |
| Posted by:Becky |
| #6 I've heard this a couple of times today. Seems to me what they're "saying" is that they're trying not to get the resolution on the table to vote because they and Cameroon, ad nauseum don't want to vote on it at all. Because, with some stories which have been leaking, France will not veto, Russian knows which end is up, Schroeder might do an about face, we do have the votes. This is like one of those marathon dances during the depression, they shoot horses, don't they? |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-03-05 13:52:20 |
| #5 Hey! Thanks for fixing that. Woo Hoo! |
| Posted by: becky 2003-03-05 13:26:56 |
| #4 well, I guess that proves I'm not an expert :-) |
| Posted by: becky 2003-03-05 12:31:23 |
| #3 "Fully assume their responsibilities..." I've got a proposal now. We can let the French take complete leadership on handling Iraq if: 1) They pick up the tab on our troops staying past the end of March. 2) They assume complete responsibility for the actions of Saddam and his WMDs. Particularly, any use of said WMDs should be treated as an official action of France. 3) They explicitly authorize appropriate response to acts of war by France against the United States and its allies. This would likely prompt the State Department to warn Americans to leave Paris and avoid French military bases. |
| Posted by: Dishman 2003-03-05 12:23:31 |
| #2 I hope Murat doesn't get on your case about it. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-03-05 12:18:35 |
| #1 oops...i guess I messed up with the highlighter. Well - you are smart people, you can figure it out. |
| Posted by: becky 2003-03-05 12:14:11 |