EU: In a setback to President Bush's plans for war on Iraq, Russia, Germany and France yesterday issued a joint declaration in favour of strengthening weapons inspections.
"There is still an alternative to war," President Jacques Chirac said, reading the declaration at a news conference with his Russian counterpart, Mr Vladimir Putin. "The use of force could only be a last resort. Russia, Germany and France are determined to allow every opportunity for the peaceful disarmament of Iraq." As permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia and France could veto a resolution authorising military intervention. Mr Bush and the British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair have said they will seek such a resolution after the February 14th weapons inspectors' report. Germany holds the presidency of the Security Council this month.
The three signators noted "that the position they express coincides with that of a large number of countries, within the Security Council in particular." On February 5th, nine of 15 members said they wanted to give more time to weapons inspections. "If it went to the [UN\] General Assembly, an even higher number share our position," Mr Putin said yesterday. "It is a totally moral position, which seeks to minimise harm to civilian populations - if these weapons of mass destruction exist."
Mr Chirac also questioned whether Iraq possesses such weapons, saying, "I have seen no irrefutable proof." The declaration nonetheless reaffirms that the disarmament of Iraq "is the common aim of the international community, and that it must be pursued to its conclusion within the shortest possible period."
US leaders have criticised France and Germany, often in insulting terms, for resisting the momentum towards war. "This debate must continue in the spirit of friendship and respect that characterises our relations with the United States," the declaration says. "It should be inspired by the principles of the United Nations Charter . . . resolution 1441 . . . provides a framework whose possibilities have not yet been thoroughly explored." The declaration states that "Russia, Germany and France favour the continuation of inspections and the substantial strengthening of their human and technical capabilities." Asked to elaborate on an alleged Franco-German "Mirage plan" reported by German media, Mr Chirac said, "I don't know what exactly you mean by 'Franco-German' . . . If it is the joint declaration, this is clear. There were French proposals a week ago in the Security Council which Germany immediately assented to. The truth is that we had concerted our efforts." Some reports said the alleged plan would place Iraq under a de facto UN mandate, enforced by UN peacekeepers. Mr Chirac seemed to deny this. "We are ready to envisage every possibility under [resolution\] 1441," he said. "Resolution 1441 does not foresee the sending of peacekeepers." Until last year, Mr Putin was snubbed by Paris because of Russian atrocities in Chechnya. But the Iraq crisis has turned Moscow into a coveted ally. Mr Putin is enjoying all the pomp and ceremony of a three-day state visit.
Mr Chirac made the exceptional gestures of meeting him at the airport and the Arc de Triomphe, and walking down the front steps of the Élysée Palace when the Russian leader arrived there.
Only a few dozen demonstrators participated in protests against Mr Putin's visit. The Russian President asked to tour the Académie francaise this morning "like Peter the Great", and several academicians refused to attend the session to show their displeasure over Chechnya. But Mr Chirac expressed fulsome support for Mr Putin's policies in the breakaway republic. "We said we hope that the \ referendum [on Chechnya\] will open the path to a political solution within the framework of the Russian federation," Mr Chirac said. "I reminded Mr Putin that we condemn all acts of terrorism." Russian officials regard Chechen fighters as "terrorists".
At the weekend, the Russian Defence Minister, Mr Sergei Ivanov claimed that a Russian raid in Chechnya uncovered makeshift chemical laboratories producing the lethal poison ricin. Mr Ivanov said that five Algerians charged with making ricin in Britain, and suspected Islamic extremists arrested in France, all trained in Chechnya.
