NATOが米の対イラク戦案否決 | 英語のニュース

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Key European allies reject revised U.S. proposal for NATO

France, Germany and Belgium rebuffed the United States for a third straight day Feb. 12, rejecting a watered-down U.S. request for military assistance from NATO in preparation for a war With Iraq.

The standoff at NATO headquarters casts doubt on U.S. chances of gaining support from the U.N. Security Council for war against Iraq for Baghdad's alleged failure to disarm.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told Congress that he would press the French and German foreign ministers to say how much more time they would give the weapons inspectors or whether they were only trying to get Iraq "off the hook."

A decision by the Security Council to block military action could produce a major break between Washington and many of the world's big powers.

Greece, the current president of the European Union, warned there would be "a deep crisis" within the European Union if European nations could not agree on a common front. With European nations lining up for and against Washington, there appeared little chance of avoiding an EU split.

France, Germany and Russia say they see no reason for launching an attack on Iraq, insisting that inspectors be given more time, manpower and equipment to peacefully disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction.

U.S. and British diplomats lobbied hard to assemble votes for a possible Security Council resolution authorizing military action against Iraq.

Seeking to end the NATO alliance's worst internal crisis since the end of the Cold War, Washington offered a compromise solution Feb. 12 on the defence of Turkey against Iraqi attack in the event of war. Turkey is the only NATO member bordering Iraq.

The United States offered to drop other requests such as helping guard U.S. bases in Europe and filling in for NATO troops on peacekeeping duty in the Balkans who may be moved to the Persian Gulf.

But France, Germany and Belgium blocked the compromise, asserting that it could undercut U.N. efforts to resolve the Iraq crisis in a peaceful way.

Shukan ST: Feb. 21, 2003

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National News Key European allies reject revised U.S. proposal for NATO France, Germany and Belgium rebuffed the United States for a third straight day Feb. 12, rejecting a watered-down U.S. request for military assistance from NATO in preparation for a war With Iraq. The standoff at NATO headquarters casts doubt on U.S. chances of gaining support from the U.N. Security Council for war against Iraq for Baghdad's alleged failure to disarm. In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told Congress that he would press the French and German foreign ministers to say how much more time they would give the weapons inspectors or whether they were only trying to get Iraq "off the hook." A decision by the Security Council to block military action could produce a major break between Washington and many of the world's big powers. Greece, the current president of the European Union, warned there would be "a deep crisis" within the European Union if European nations could not agree on a common front. With European nations lining up for and against Washington, there appeared little chance of avoiding an EU split. France, Germany and Russia say they see no reason for launching an attack on Iraq, insisting that inspectors be given more time, manpower and equipment to peacefully disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. U.S. and British diplomats lobbied hard to assemble votes for a possible Security Council resolution authorizing military action against Iraq. Seeking to end the NATO alliance's worst internal crisis since the end of the Cold War, Washington offered a compromise solution Feb. 12 on the defence of Turkey against Iraqi attack in the event of war. Turkey is the only NATO member bordering Iraq. The United States offered to drop other requests such as helping guard U.S. bases in Europe and filling in for NATO troops on peacekeeping duty in the Balkans who may be moved to the Persian Gulf. But France, Germany and Belgium blocked the compromise, asserting that it could undercut U.N. efforts to resolve the Iraq crisis in a peaceful way. Shukan ST: Feb. 21, 2003 (C) All rights reserved