A rchive Date
[ 13-03-2003 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.N ]
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[http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/topstory/1816799
U.N. vote on new resolution may be pushed back to Monday
Associated Press
March 13, 2003, 6:14PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - In a reversal, the White House said today that President Bush is open to briefly delaying a vote on his U.N. war resolution until next week if the postponement would help gain support for the measure. Secretary of State Colin Powell said one option was to drop plans for a Security Council vote.
"We are still talking to members of the council to see what is possible," Powell told a House Appropriations subcommittee. He said the options under consideration include "to go for a vote and not to go for a vote."
The administration had unusually harsh criticism for France, which rejected a British compromise resolution today. France's threatened veto would sink the tough new resolution that Bush seeks.
"France has said they reject the logic of ultimatums," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "France also looked at the British proposal, and they rejected it before Iraq rejected it. If that isn't an unreasonable veto, what is? So we look at what France is doing, and we wish they were doing otherwise."
Asked whether the administration supports American boycotts of French products, Fleischer said: "You are seeing the American people speak spontaneously and that is their right. It is the right of people in Europe to demonstrate. It is the people in Europe to speak their mind. So too it is the right of the American people to speak theirs."
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Wednesday that the stand of French President Jacques Chirac is making it less likely Iraq can be disarmed peacefully. The administration had been pushing for a vote by Friday, but signaled a change early today when Fleischer said, "It may conclude tomorrow. It may continue into next week."
Bush had been scheduled to go the Capitol today for the traditional St. Patrick's Day luncheon with lawmakers and dignitaries. But at the last minute, his motorcade already assembled and ready to ferry him up Pennsylvania Avenue, Bush canceled his appearance to remain in the Oval Office and continue telephone diplomacy. Vice President Dick Cheney was going to Capitol Hill in the president's place.
Bush called two Security Council allies today - British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxcoburggotski. He also spoke to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun about Iraq and the Korean nuclear crisis. Aides said he planned further calls throughout the day.
Powell was asked by lawmakers how the United States stood on the proposal Britain has offered the Security Council as a compromise. "Not all of us bought all the elements," Powell said. He called the proposal "a way to see if more nations can find a way forward."
Twice during his comments Powell noted that "a permanent member of the council" quickly objected to the British plan and then Iraq did the same. Powell didn't name the country but an aide said it was a reference to France.
Bush called world leaders this morning and met with Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. Ireland has provided landing facilities for American military aircraft for 40 years, but Ahern is confronting strong anti-war sentiment there today, and Irish citizens have vandalized U.S. military planes.
Ahern told Bush that "if there is not a resolution, Ireland cannot engage in support of military action, because we work under the U.N. resolution." Ahern said he planned to consult with his Parliament after any Security Council vote. Earlier, Ahern offered strong backing to Bush in a joint public appearance - Bush's first in a week. "For the United Nations to be respected, it must be united in purpose as well as in name," Ahern said.
Bush thanked Ireland for its support last fall, as a Security Council member, for a resolution demanding the Iraq disarm. "We appreciate Ireland's support for seeing the just demands of the world are enforced," Bush said. He offered no comments on the state of negotiations at the United Nations.
Bush briefly planned a trip to meet with Blair, but it was scuttled when arrangements couldn't be completed, a senior U.S. official said.
Powell, testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee, said, "The United States is not isolated on this issue." Besides Ireland, he cited Britain, Australia, Bulgaria, Italy, Spain, Japan and eight eastern European countries and declared that for Iraq, "The day of reckoning is fast approaching."
Powell attributed the U.S. difficulty in getting the resolution approved to some members of the U.N. Security Council not understanding that "the U.S. was deadly serious" when it approved a resolution last November warning Iraq of serious consequences if it did not disarm.
However, Powell added, "We are still hopeful of a peaceful solution."
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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