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France not for unilateral action against Iraq

By K. K. Katyal

Dominique de Villepin

PARIS SEPT. 26. France today rejected — in clear, unambiguous terms — the idea of unilateral action against Iraq and called for keeping the United Nations in the picture.

The stand of France was elaborated by its Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin, in an exclusive interview that covered a wide range of issues, notably bilateral ties with India, the situation in South Asia and the future of Europe.

In reply to pointed queries on Iraq, he made out a strong case for confining the current discussions to the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq and ensuring its compliance with the U.N. resolution in fulfilment of its obligations on nuclear non-proliferation. Changing of the regime is not the objective, the responsibility of the U.N. ``If we were to aim at changing regimes, then we are going into a process where we do not know where to end. Also, who is to judge which regime is good or bad? It will be a source of instability and other countries might be a target after Iraq.''

The present situation, according to him, needed to be treated in two separate phases — one, to assess the decision of Iraq (on unconditional return of inspectors to be precise about the technical arrangements, which, in any case, were there in Resolution 1284). There could be a new resolution on the same subject — practical arrangements for the return of inspectors, even though it is not absolutely necessary. But inclusion of the use of force in such a resolution was not acceptable — that would divide the international community at a time when consensus needed to be preserved. ``We want the international community to send a strong signal to Arabs and other countries that there was no hidden agenda. And if Iraq failed on compliance, the Security Council could meet again and consider various options." But that would be a separate phase, he said. The two phases were not to be mixed. "Let us not prejudge Iraq'' he stressed. Any action that became necessary should be the responsibility of the U.N., not of the U.S.

In pursuance of these objectives, France was in touch with Russia and China. As he saw it, India and France had identical views on the subject.

As regards India-Pakistan problems, he favoured resumption of dialogue between the two countries. ``The elections (in Jammu and Kashmir) mark an important stage in the return to stability. We condemn acts of violence.''

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