NATO failed in its second attempt today to break an impasse over planning for the defence of Turkey in case of a US-led war in Iraq despite a compromise proposal, diplomats said. "The meeting is over, they failed to agree. The three reiterated their position," one said, referring to resistance by France, Germany and Belgium which has thrown NATO into one of the deepest crises in its 54-year history.
He said there may be another meeting of NATO ambassadors tomorrow afternoon to find a solution.
Earlier today the ambassadors of the 19-nation alliance briefly discussed a compromise plan under which a package of proposed contingency steps for a possible conflict were cut back to focus only on protecting Turkey. They then referred the plan to their governments for a decision.
But France - which along with Belgium and Germany formally vetoed a decision to start preparations on Monday - said its position had not been changed by the compromise proposal.
"The allies are all working very hard to find a solution to what is a serious issue," NATO spokesman Mr Yves Brodeur said after the meeting.
But hopes of a breakthrough remain dim as Washington accuses the three states of breaking-up of the alliance altogether.
Following this morning's meeting a French spokesman said there had been no change in the position.
"In this case, we make a very clear distinction between two things. Firstly, our solidarity with Turkey, which is total. Secondly, our political approach to the Iraqi crisis which is based on resolution 1441," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
"In this regard, we cannot, through a NATO decision, give our support in principle to a military intervention in Iraq and thus pre-empt the decisions of the Security Council," he added.
France believes the US/British proposals would be seen by Iraq as proof that war is inevitable and that diplomatic efforts had failed. The French and Germans have proposed sending more inspectors into Iraq among other measures to force the Iraqis to fully co-operate with UN resolution 1441.
Despite huge pressure for compromise, NATO fears that there can be no accord before a crucial meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday which will hear a second report from chief weapons inspector Dr Hans Blix on Iraq's disarmament.
"A solution which didn't take into account the fact that Hans Blix is presenting his report Friday would not be able to overcome our objections," a Belgian diplomat said.
But Mr Brodeur rebuffed the suggestion. "It's not a question of timing at this point," he said.
The United States presented a package of proposals for a NATO role in a threatened war on Iraq in mid-January.
Their proposal package includes deploying Patriot anti-missile batteries, AWACS surveillance planes and chemical-biological protection units to Turkey.
It also includes proposals to allow the redeployment of NATO troops, notably from Europe and the Balkans, in the event of a war in Iraq, an issue which has raised concern among the three European states.
One diplomat said the compromise proposal, discussed by NATO governments overnight, stripped off elements of the package relating to troop redeployment.
"There is some hope that the issue has been that Germany, France and Belgium have needed to find some kind of political way to accept defence of Turkey.
The crisis was sparked on Monday after France, Belgium and Germany vetoed the US plans. Turkey immediately invoked Article 4 of NATO's 1949 founding treaty charter, signalling that it feels its territory is threatened.
The NATO spokesman refused to be drawn on how the three countries had reacted to the new compromise.
"All allies are again involved in intense consultations. I don't think it would be useful to try to characterize the position of any country at this point," Mr Brodeur told reporters.
The latest attempts to find a solution came after US Secretary of State Colin Powell upped the ante by accusing the three countries blocking a deal of using NATO as a political tool to advance their anti-war agenda.
Mr Powell even warned that NATO risked imploding over the crisis.
"Who is breaking up the alliance?" he asked. "Not the United States. The alliance is breaking itself up because it will not meet its responsibilities."
Iraq has hailed the European trio's decision to block the US proposals as "a slap in the face for the US administration."
Before the meeting, the European Union's security and foreign policy chief, Mr Javier Solana said he believes the differences can be overcome.
AFP &