30 January 2003, 09:59  U.K, Spain, Six European Leaders Urge Unity on Iraq

London, Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K., Spain and the leaders of six other European nations made a joint appeal for Europe to unite and support U.S. efforts to disarm Iraq. The leaders of the U.K. and Spain, joined by Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and the Czech Republic, made the call in a statement published in the U.K.'s Times of London and the Wall Street Journal, the second-biggest U.S. daily newspaper. ``The trans-Atlantic relationship must not become a casualty of the current Iraqi regime's persistent attempts to threaten world security,'' the leaders said in the statement, according to the Wall Street Journal online. The bond between Europe and the U.S. ``is a guarantee of our freedom.'' The statement may be intended to put pressure on France and Germany, which disagree with the U.S. and U.K. over what action to take against Iraq. The two countries, along with Russia and China, want United Nations inspectors to be given time to complete their work verifying Iraq's weapons arsenal. The U.S. and the U.K. will have 215,000 troops in the Persian Gulf by mid-February ready to take military action if Iraq fails to comply with UN resolutions. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld last week referred to France and Germany as representing ``old Europe.''
``You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe,'' Rumsfeld said in a comment to reporters. ``If you look at the entire NATO Europe today, the center of gravity is shifting to the east,'' with the entry of new members such as Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, he said. French Finance Minister Francis Mer responded by saying ``the old Europe has bounce and is capable of rebounding.''
European Support
A vote by four of the 15 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization against supporting the U.S. in military action didn't mean Europe is against the U.S., Rumsfeld said in Washington yesterday. ``Simply because one or two countries are against, it's a mistake to think that means all of Europe,'' he said. Europeans supported the UN resolution warning Saddam Hussein's regime of ``severe consequences'' if it fails to reveal its weapons programs, the European leaders said in their statement. ``We must remain united in insisting that his regime be disarmed.'' The joint appeal was suggested by Spain's Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, who meets U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair in Madrid today, Times Online said on its Web site without citing anyone. Aznar's office produced a draft article, which other leaders read, amended and signed, it said. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the statement.
Intelligence Report
U.S. President George W. Bush, in his State of the Union address, said he will ask the Security Council to meet Feb. 5 to hear U.S. intelligence on Iraq's weapons programs. French President Jacques Chirac and Germany's Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said last week in Paris they had a common position and won't back the use of force against Iraq in the UN Security Council. The eight European leaders also addressed their letter to the 15-member Council, which met yesterday to consider its response to reports by UN inspectors criticizing Iraq for failing to provide evidence it has destroyed its weapons of mass destruction. The leaders called on the Council to remain united in insisting Iraq disarm. ``A majority in the Security Council, it was very clear, is in favor of disarming Iraq through peaceful means and giving Iraq more time,'' French Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said after yesterday's discussions. ``There is no time limit. The inspections are producing significant results, and as long as they are, they should continue.''
Iraqi Cooperation
Chinese, German and Russian ambassadors repeated their call for patience with the inspections, while joining the U.S. and U.K. demand for ``proactive cooperation'' by Iraq. Mexico and Syria also asked for more time. Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in his report his team needs months to complete its work in Iraq. U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who will present the U.S. intelligence on Iraq's weapons buildup to the Security Council next week, wants foreign ministers from member states to attend, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said yesterday. The Bush administration will help find a place of exile for Hussein, his family and top aides should the Iraqi leader agree to hand over power, Powell said yesterday at a briefing in Washington. //www.quote.bloomberg.com

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