STATEMENT BY THE DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON

FRANCE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

August 2, 2002

Excerpts

Q - About the U.N. returning to Iraq. Do you have any comment?

I think you're referring not to the return of the United Nations but the invitation to Mr. Blix to go to Baghdad.

We support all efforts that might lead to Iraq's compliance with its obligations under the Security Council resolutions.

We wish to see the dialogue between the United Nations and the Iraqi authorities pursued in the context defined by these resolutions on both the technical level in order to prepare physically for the inspectors to return and politically so that Baghdad accepts the return of inspectors. May I also remind you that France would like to see UNMOVIC inspectors and the IAEA return to Iraq immediately in the conditions laid down by the United Nations. President Chirac and Mr. de Villepin repeated our position just recently, and we believe it is the best thing the Iraqis could do.

Q - But do you think that the invitation from the Iraqi government is a step forward or not? Because the British are doubtful while the Russians say it's good move. What does France think?

France supports all the efforts that might lead to Iraq's compliance with its obligations under the Security Council resolutions.

Q - Does France consider that it's an Iraqi trap to try to delay an attack or on the contrary is it a move in the right direction?

We support everything that might lead the Iraqis to allow the inspectors to return.

Q - I know this is a hypothetical question but in the event the U.N. inspectors do return to Iraq, would the matter then be closed for France or not? In other words, would it still be possible to support U.S. military intervention or would it be condemned?

That's an avalanche of questions and hypothetical presumptions which I will refrain from answering. I simply want to repeat that the return of inspectors to Iraq would obviously be a good thing as we've been calling for this for a long time. The rest of your question is hypothetical.