Asia unswayed, but France urges Iraq to respond
International Herald Tribune
February 8, 2003
Thomas Crampton

Initial reaction from Asian countries on Thursday indicated that most remained unmoved by Secretary of State Colin Powell's presentation of Iraq's noncompliance with United Nations mandates.

In Europe, however, France urged Iraq to quickly answer charges that it possesses weapons of mass destruction and indicated that time was running out for Baghdad to cooperate with weapons inspectors.

"We ask Saddam Hussein to respond rapidly to the demands of the international community," said France's foreign minister, Dominique de Villepin, speaking to Europe-1 radio on his return flight to France after the Security Council session.

De Villepin said that France's view on war against Iraq was unchanged, but he appeared to shift subtly by stating that while force could only be used as a last resort, "we do not exclude any possibility, including that of force." (Page 10)

The most positive reaction in Asia came from countries that have already expressed support for a stronger position against Iraq. Countries opposed to the U.S. stance issued calls for more evidence, while in Indonesia a small number of anti-war protesters took to the streets in Jakarta.

Calling for the U.S. to provide further proof, Malaysia's prime minister, Mahathir bin Mohamad, warned that U.S.-led strikes against Iraq could spark a backlash among Muslims that would lead to more terrorist attacks.

The government of Australia, a strong supporter of the U.S. stance, said Powell's address provided "cast-iron evidence" of Baghdad's duplicity.

The evidence proved that Iraq was not cooperating with the UN resolution passed in November requiring it to disarm, said Australia's foreign minister, Alexander Downer.

"It's a deeply disturbing, additional submission which confirms what Hans Blix was saying 10 days ago," Downer told Australian radio, referring to the UN's chief weapons inspector. "There is no question that Iraq is endeavoring to circumvent Security Council resolutions."

In the Philippines, a close U.S. ally currently receiving military assistance from Washington to fight Muslim insurgents, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo expressed concerns about links Powell drew between Baghdad and terrorist organizations.

Speaking to a group of students at Manila University, Arroyo said she was "alarmed at the information of the link between the Iraqi leadership and terrorist organizations." Meanwhile her foreign secretary, Blas Ople, said Powell's presentation "amounted to a very convincing one that indeed the Iraqi regime has failed" to comply with UN resolutions to disarm.

While Manila has declined to send troops to Iraq, Ople said the government of the Philippines was prepared to offer logistical support, including use of its airspace by U.S. jets and allowing American forces to stop over.

Japan's prime minister, Junichiro Koizumi, said Powell's presentation had increased suspicions about Iraq's weapons program.

"Suspicions over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program have deepened," Koizumi told the lower house's budget committee in response to a question. "We must act in a responsible manner as a U.S. ally and a member of the international community."

Moving as close as Tokyo has come to backing the use of military force against Iraq, Koizumi added: "Iraq holds the key to whether this matter can be resolved peacefully or not."

Later, however, Koizumi took a line similar to that of Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair, saying a new UN resolution would be "desirable."

Japan's stance on Iraq follows an unprecedented level of participation in U.S.-led military operations in Afghanistan. The presence of a Japanese naval vessel in the Indian Ocean was the first deployment since World War II of Japanese troops in a war zone.

In Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, Powell's presentation inspired protests and failed to sway the government.

"For Indonesia, the intelligence information conveyed by the U.S. has an indicative nature which requires further verification by the UN inspection team," said Indonesia's foreign minister, Hassan Wirajuda. "Indonesia supports the extension of the UN inspection mission and leaving the Security Council to judge whether the report can give enough reason or no reason at all for imposing a sanction on Iraq."

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