Jacques Chirac, the President of France, stated that his country is currently opposed to another resolution from the United Nations allowing military action against Iraq. Mr. Chirac emphasized the importance of applying pressure on Iraq to eliminate weapons of mass destruction and said that France considers another UN resolution unnecessary while international weapons inspectors are actively working and investigating in Iraq. The French leader made these remarks while heading to Brussels to participate in an extraordinary conference of European Union leaders regarding Iraq. On the other hand, Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, mentioned in a meeting with reporters that if we cannot disarm Iraq peacefully, then the use of force may be the only option available. Greece, holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, invited member countries to participate in this extraordinary meeting to achieve a unified and coordinated policy regarding a potential U.S. attack on Iraq.
Jacques Chirac: Currently Opposed to Another Resolution Allowing Military Action Against Iraq
French President Jacques Chirac expressed opposition to a new UN resolution permitting military action against Iraq, advocating for pressure on Iraq to disarm instead. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested that force might be necessary if peaceful disarmament fails. This situation is critical as it reflects the divisions within Europe regarding military intervention in Iraq.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
French President Jacques Chirac opposed a new UN resolution for military action against Iraq, advocating for continued inspections instead. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair suggested that force might be necessary if peaceful disarmament fails.
- Chirac emphasized the importance of ongoing weapons inspections in Iraq.
- The extraordinary EU meeting aimed to unify member states on policy regarding Iraq.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
This discussion occurs in the context of Iraq's alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction, which has raised international concerns and calls for disarmament.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%