President Bush and allied leaders agreed on one final attempt to win world backing Monday for the swift disarmament of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. "Tomorrow is a moment of truth for the world," the president said at a Sunday summit with allies.
"Now we make a final appeal to make a strong, unified message on behalf of the international community," said British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who met with Bush and the leaders of Spain and Portugal in the Atlantic island summit.
Bush urged other nations to support "the immediate and unconditional disarmament" of the Iraqi leader.
The four leaders met at an American air base in the Azores, Portuguese territory in the Atlantic Ocean.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said the agreement among the leaders marked "a last chance, one last attempt to reach the greatest possible consensus among ourselves."
Bush sounded like he didn't expect reluctant countries to change their minds. Asked whether Monday was the day that would determine whether diplomacy could work he replied, "That's what I'm saying."
"We hope tomorrow the U.N. will do its job," Bush said.
Noting that he said 10 days ago he wanted the nations of the Security Council to show their cards, he said, "France showed their cards. After I said what I said, they said they were going to veto anything that held Saddam to account."
French President Jacques Chirac said earlier Sunday he was willing to accept a 30-day deadline for Iraq to disarm, provided the move was endorsed by U.S. weapons inspectors.
Blair noted that some nations oppose any ultimatum to Saddam. The result, he said, is that the Iraqi leader is playing a game that "he has played over the last 12 years. Disarmament never happens but instead the international community is drawn into some perpetual negotiation," he said.
"Now we have reached the point of decision," he said.
Portugal Prime Minister Jose Durao Barroso called the Azores summit "the last chance of a political solution. It may be a small chance but if there is only one chance in a million it's worth trying this opportunity." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
