France and Germany on Wednesday insisted that they are committed to a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis. "War is not inevitable," French President Jacques Chirac told a historic joint session of the French and German parliaments. "The only framework for a legitimate solution is the United Nations."
After a joint meeting of the French and German Cabinets, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the two countries "are entirely in agreement to harmonize our positions more closely in favor of a peaceful solution of the Iraqi crisis."
Chirac said both nations agreed that any decision to attack Iraq should be made only by the U.N. Security Council, after U.N. weapons inspectors have reported their findings.
"For us, war is always the proof of failure and the worst of solutions, so everything must be done to avoid it," Chirac said.
The French leader added France, which holds the current Security Council leadership, and Germany were working closely in the council "to give peace the utmost chance."
According to a report published in The Times newspaper on Thursday, Germany will use its power as incoming president of the UN Security Council to try to head off war by asking the chief weapons inspectors to report twice in three weeks. This surprise German move aimed at defusing the tension that is building around the chief inspector’s public report to the 15-nation council on Monday.
The newspaper added Germany fears that President Bush could use Hans Blix’s report — and his own State of the Union speech on Tuesday — as a trigger for war. It is therefore proposing bringing the inspectors back for a second assessment on February 14, having invited them to Berlin beforehand.
Meanwhile, Bush warned Iraqi commanders on Wednesday they would face war crimes charges if they used chemical or biological weapons against invading U.S. troops.
"Should any Iraqi officer or soldier receive an order from Saddam Hussein or his sons or any of the killers who occupy the high levels of their government, my advice is 'don't follow that order,"' Bush said in a speech in St. Louis.
"If you choose to do so, when Iraq is liberated, you will be treated, tried and persecuted as a war criminal." Bush said Saddam "asked for more time so he can give the so-called inspectors more runaround. He's interested in playing hide-and-seek in a huge country. He's not interested in disarming." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
