At this stage, as you know, no draft resolution has yet been formally submitted. We are working continuously, in a constructive spirit of dialogue to find a compromise that is mutually satisfactory, enabling the Council to send Iraq a strong and united message for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction, for that has clearly been the priority from the outset.

France still hopes there will be an agreement in the Council soon so as to permit the inspectors to return to Iraq and resume their mission, without hindrance on the part of Iraq.

Of course, we are conferring with China, a permanent member of the Security Council—that goes without saying.

 

Of course.

 

It's not a question at this point of victory or failure of anyone. As we've been saying for some time, we're working constantly to achieve a solution; the Security Council members are consulting among themselves, and our objective is to maintain the unity of the international community and the Security Council on the question of Iraq, with our priority objective the elimination of weapons of mass destruction. I refer you to the very clear statements the President made yesterday in Beirut on the sidelines of the Francophonie summit there.

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We're maintaining the two-stage approach.

 

We continue to advocate a two-stage approach enabling the Council to take a position in the event of Iraq's gross failure to comply with its obligations. That is the basis of our position.