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STATEMENT BY THE SPOKESPERSON
FRANCE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
August 23, 2002
Excerpt
(One gets the impression in the wake of recent statements by the British foreign secretary about Iraq, that British policy towards Iraq is shifting, is distancing itself from the known U.S. position to date. Do you welcome this shift in position which insists on the return of inspectors before all else?)
I have no comment on Mr. Straw's statements. We are naturally studying them very carefully. A debate is also developing on Iraq in the U.S. which President Bush recently called a healthy debate. Our position has been stated by the highest authorities, by the president at Schwerin when he met with the Germans and the foreign minister in his interview in Le Monde. Our position is that today it is particularly critical that the inspectors should return to do their job in Iraq, unconditionally and immediately, in accordance with Security Council resolutions.
(About a strike against Iraq. Are you in favor and what do you expect?)
Our position has not changed. I refer you to the position stated by the president in Schwerin. An attack, which we do not want to imagine, could be justified, if necessary, if it was a Security Council decision.
(If the inspectors returned, that would likely prevent a U.S. strike against Iraq. We can clearly see what's happening in Israel at this time--the preparations-and in Turkey.)
I won't speculate on developments that remain hypothetical. Our priority is to see the inspectors return, and that is what we're concentrating on. Iraq would be well advised to understand very, very quickly the need for them to return.