Jacques Chirac delivered a blunt warning to Tony Blair yesterday that Britain and the US will have their work cut out to persuade France to back a military attack on Iraq.
Laying bare Anglo-French divisions, the French president declared that war was the ”worst possible solution” as he called for UN weapons inspectors to be allowed to continue their work.
”I note that the inspection system has proved very effective in the past,” Chirac said at the end of yesterday’s Anglo-French summit in Le Touquet. ”I note that in the first round, more arms were destroyed than in the Gulf war. Therefore the inspection system is very effective.”
Chirac’s remarks set him directly at odds with London and Washington, which believe that Baghdad’s refusal to cooperate with the inspectors has made their work all but redundant. Britain and the US have declared Iraq to be in ”material breach” of UN resolution 1441 — which they believe is enough to trigger war.
Standing next to Chirac, a stern-faced Blair made no attempt to hide his disagreement with the French president. ”Of course there are the differences that are familiar to people,” the prime minister said at the post-summit press conference.
The stark differences between the two sides highlight the formidable challenge Britain faces in winning round the French. Blair is determined to win French support because it would pave the way for a second UN security resolution — a key demand of sceptical Labour backbenchers.
The prime minister knows, however, that he has only another six weeks after George Bush told him last Friday that his patience will wear thin by next month.
Downing Street officials, who privately believe that Chirac will eventually be persuaded to come on board, were not surprised by the French president’s barbed remarks. On the day that France’s only aircraft carrier was dispatched to the Gulf, they also took heart when Chirac held out the possibility of rallying behind Britain and the US.
Chirac repeatedly refused to be drawn on whether France would wield its veto on the UN security council if Britain and the US attempt to press for a second resolution authorising military action. ”France will assume its responsibility as it sees fit,” he said.
The French president added that he would await the outcome of the next report to the security council by the chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, on February 14. His remarks were echoed by Blair, although the prime minister indicated that Britain regards February 14 as more of a deadline for Iraq to prove its compliance.
”We have then the report of Dr Blix, the chief inspector, on the 14th of February. We will make our judgments then,” Blair said.
Divisions over Iraq overshadowed the summit, which was held in the British-designed northern resort of Le Touquet to underline Anglo-French ties after a series of recent rows. At the end of nearly five hours of talks, which included a lunch of scallops and lamb at the Hotel Westminster, a favourite of Edward VIII, the two leaders hailed a series of agreements on defence, education and asylum.
Blair made a gesture to his host by using his halting, public schoolboy French to declare: ”There are more things that unite us, than divide us.”
His remarks were echoed by Chirac, who turned on his famous Gallic charm to lavish praise on the ”five eminent members of the cabinet” accompanying Blair.
The two leaders concluded their talks, which were kicked off in the marriage hall of the city’s town hall, by announcing that they are to hold a series of events next year to mark the 100th anniversary of the entente cordiale — the historic Anglo-French agreement to end territorial disputes over Egypt and Morocco. – Guardian Unlimited Â