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Spain is one of few US backers on the Security Council
The heads of eight European countries have called for a unified front against Iraq, lending much needed diplomatic support to US President George Bush as he builds his case against Saddam Hussein.In a joint letter to various newspapers, the leaders of Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and the Czech Republic warned that the credibility of the United Nations would be on the line if it failed to ensure that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein complied with its resolution on disarmament.
The statement is being seen as a calculated rebuff to France and Germany, the European heavyweights which sit on the United Nations Security Council and which have expressed serious reservations about war.
The Bush administration has in the last few days made clear that it is prepared to go to war without the backing of the UN if need be, declaring it would lead instead a "coalition of the willing".
The BBC's Ian Pannell in Washington says this letter gives that claim some substance. The timing of this declaration of support, he says, could not have come at a better time for the administration.
'Clear threat'
The Europeans' letter was published a day before UK Prime Minister Tony Blair meets Mr Bush for talks focussing on how to deal with Iraq, a session which some analysts have already dubbed a council of war.
Europeans, the letter said, agreed that Saddam was a "clear threat to world security". They declared that the world should ensure that the Iraqi regime is disarmed.
"The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are our best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength lies in unity."
'Old Europe' rift
Their strong support for the US and a "transatlantic relationship" is in sharp contrast to open differences between Washington and France and Germany. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently derided France and Germany as the "old Europe" after their leaders said they would work together to avoid war in Iraq.
Mr Rumsfeld said France and Germany had been "a problem" but he predicted that other European countries - particularly those in the formerly communist central and eastern Europe - would back the US.
However, while Thursday's letter indicates there is support for the US from the new Nato members of the former eastern bloc, divisions within the Security Council - which may still be asked to approve a war - remain strong.Russia - a permanent council member with power of veto - demanded that Washington provide "undeniable proof" that Iraq had banned weapons of mass destruction.
France - another permanent member - said during a debate on a report by chief weapons inspector Hans Blix that there should be more time to verify or find fault with Iraq's claims it has disarmed.
Mr Blix told the Council earlier this week that Iraq had been complying with UN resolutions only reluctantly and may still have biological weapons.
Eleven of the 15 members agreed there should be further scrutiny of the situation before any military campaign is launched. However, Washington's ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte, declared on Wednesday that the window for a diplomatic solution was closing, echoing President Bush's threats of military action to enforce disarmament.
"We think the time for diplomatic action is narrowing," he said. "The time for decision-making is fast approaching."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2708023.stm
The heads of eight European countries have called for a unified front against Iraq, lending much needed diplomatic support to US President George Bush as he builds his case against Saddam Hussein.In a joint letter to various newspapers, the leaders of Britain, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Poland, Denmark and the Czech Republic warned that the credibility of the United Nations would be on the line if it failed to ensure that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein complied with its resolution on disarmament.
The statement is being seen as a calculated rebuff to France and Germany, the European heavyweights which sit on the United Nations Security Council and which have expressed serious reservations about war.
The Bush administration has in the last few days made clear that it is prepared to go to war without the backing of the UN if need be, declaring it would lead instead a "coalition of the willing".
The BBC's Ian Pannell in Washington says this letter gives that claim some substance. The timing of this declaration of support, he says, could not have come at a better time for the administration.
'Clear threat'
The Europeans' letter was published a day before UK Prime Minister Tony Blair meets Mr Bush for talks focussing on how to deal with Iraq, a session which some analysts have already dubbed a council of war.
Europeans, the letter said, agreed that Saddam was a "clear threat to world security". They declared that the world should ensure that the Iraqi regime is disarmed.
"The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are our best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength lies in unity."
'Old Europe' rift
Their strong support for the US and a "transatlantic relationship" is in sharp contrast to open differences between Washington and France and Germany. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently derided France and Germany as the "old Europe" after their leaders said they would work together to avoid war in Iraq.
Mr Rumsfeld said France and Germany had been "a problem" but he predicted that other European countries - particularly those in the formerly communist central and eastern Europe - would back the US.
However, while Thursday's letter indicates there is support for the US from the new Nato members of the former eastern bloc, divisions within the Security Council - which may still be asked to approve a war - remain strong.Russia - a permanent council member with power of veto - demanded that Washington provide "undeniable proof" that Iraq had banned weapons of mass destruction.
France - another permanent member - said during a debate on a report by chief weapons inspector Hans Blix that there should be more time to verify or find fault with Iraq's claims it has disarmed.
Mr Blix told the Council earlier this week that Iraq had been complying with UN resolutions only reluctantly and may still have biological weapons.
Eleven of the 15 members agreed there should be further scrutiny of the situation before any military campaign is launched. However, Washington's ambassador to the UN, John Negroponte, declared on Wednesday that the window for a diplomatic solution was closing, echoing President Bush's threats of military action to enforce disarmament.
"We think the time for diplomatic action is narrowing," he said. "The time for decision-making is fast approaching."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2708023.stm
