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STATEMENT BY THE SPOKESPERSON
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs
May 17, 2002
Q - Do you have any comment on Iraq's reaction to resolution 1409?
You're referring to the Iraqi authorities' pledge to cooperate in the application of resolution 1409. I recall that the objective of this resolution is to improve delivery of civilian goods to the Iraqi people. The pledge to cooperate is a step in the right direction. However, to obtain a real settlement to the question of Iraqi, the priority is still to have the U.N. inspectors return immediately to Iraq, to work there freely and effectively in the conditions set by the Security Council.
Q - Do you have any comment on Tony Blair's statement to the BBC saying that the objective, if we understand correctly, is still the overthrow of Saddam Hussein? And when asked if the inspectors returned to Iraq would the sanctions be lifted, he didn't reply. What is France's position?
I have no comment on what Mr. Blair said. As to the substance of the question, lifting sanctions if the inspectors return, the answer is in the U.N. resolutions, specifically 1284 which does not say that the sanctions will be immediately lifted if the inspectors return. It is a more gradual process.
Q - About the inspectors' task. The Americans and Russians have been discussing it and there's talk of a kind of deal between them to get resolution 1409 passed in return for which these tasks, which are an impediment because of their ambiguity, might be clarified.
There must be some confusion, the idea of a clarification of resolution 1284 was expressed in the context of the discussions on resolution 1382 last November.
Q - I know what the demand is for the future-the democratization of the regime. Knowing that, there are some things that can be guessed at. Is France ready to prevent that type of demand?
At this point, we have a single message: Iraq would be well advised to agree to the return of the inspectors, as President Chirac has said.