The Arab countries to Saddam
“Collaborate with the UN”

INSTAMBUL – The appeal comes from six Middle Eastern foreign ministers. Recipient, Saddam Hussein. “Baghdad cooperates more with the UN” wrote the heads of diplomacy of Turkey, Iran, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt, gathered in Istanbul. An appeal that asks Saddam to respect resolution 1441 of the security council. The text underlines “the goal of establishing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East, as stated in the resolution of the UN Security Council number 687” and reaffirms commitment to a peaceful solution of the Palestinian question and the implementation of all the resolutions on the subject of the UN, in order to achieve a just and global peace in the Middle East “. In the same final declaration, no appeal is made to the United States, because “at this moment our task is to send a message to Iraq”.

Meanwhile, the front of US allies is breaking even more. After the sharp “no” to the armed intervention in Iraq, pronounced by France and Germany, after the determination reaffirmed by the US to reach the war, after the sharp opposition of China and Russia, today it is up to Canada to make known all its perplexities to the armed hypothesis. “We agree with the French and German analysis that, at this moment, there is no justification for a war,” says Foreign Minister Bill Graham. With a majority of public opinion opposed to the war, Graham adds: “The only justification for a war could be if the UN decides that Iraq is resisting resolutions and is pursuing the development of weapons of mass destruction”.

Finally, Spain, which chooses a halfway position. Madrid announces its intention to grant the United States its bases in the event of an attack on Iraq: “Resolution 1441 is the last chance offered to Iraq to fulfill its obligation of disarmament”, says Spanish Foreign Minister Ana Palacio. There is no clear answer, however, to the possibility that Spain may support an attack against Iraq without a UN resolution authorizing it or sending Spanish troops.

January 23rd 2003