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Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: AK2004 who wrote (20645)	3/14/2003 2:32:02 AM
From: PartyTime	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 25898

You do appreciate the UN resolution they introduced the day after 9/11 that created the world coalition against terrorism, don't you?

To: AK2004 who wrote (20645)	3/14/2003 2:49:36 AM
From: PartyTime	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 25898

Fox Says Bush Pressured Him on Iraq Agence France Press/Reuters MEXICO CITY, 14 March 2003 ? President Vicente Fox told reporters from his hospital bed after a spinal operation that US President George Bush tried to ?insistently convince? him of the US view on Iraq, but that Mexico had not taken a decision yet. Fox, who underwent surgery early Wednesday for a slipped disk, said he was ?somewhat? under pressure on the Iraqi issue, and had received calls from several countries, including Singapore, Japan, Colombia and Venezuela. ?Some are choosing one of the alternatives, while others are giving a lot of support to our efforts toward peace.? Bush was ?very polite,? Fox told television reporters in a telephone interview late Wednesday. ?Of course he defends his point of view and tries to insistently convince, but we have responded with firmness and sovereignty.? Fox refused to say how Mexico will vote in the UN Security Council for a US-British-Spanish draft resolution authorizing the use of military force unless Iraq satisfies the world that it has disarmed by March 17. Mexico is one of six undecided Security Council members whose votes could make or break the measure. Press reports here suggest that it is leaning toward a ?no? vote. According to surveys, 70 percent of Mexicans oppose a US-led war on Iraq. Fox stressed Mexico?s choice on Iraq would be ?more of a decision by the state rather than a personal one,? adding that his government was strongly in favor ?of peace and seeking peaceful solutions to conflicts through dialogue.? Asked if it was difficult to say ?no? to Bush, Fox said: ?Quite frankly, no, because we?ve built a friendship and a relationship that?s different; its based on seriousness, on political maturity and the knowledge that we?re neighbors, friends, partners, and also that we have to speak the truth to each other.? Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has suggested to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that he convene a ?high-level meeting? of countries involved in the search for a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis as a way of averting war, an official said in Brasilia on Wednesday. Presidential spokesman Andre Singer said Lula felt that ?under the moral and political authority of the UN secretary-general?, such a meeting would turn into an important forum for debate that could lead to a peaceful and multilateral end to the crisis. Meanwhile, the head of the Latin American Bishops Conference, Colombian Bishop Jorge Jimenez, on Wednesday asked the UN Council members Chile and Mexico not to back a draft resolution that would authorize an attack on Iraq by the United States. ?They have an enormous and great responsibility. The Latin American countries that have a vote there (on the council) must vote in favor of peace,? said Jimenez, who was in Santiago attending a bishops? meeting. ?Let them vote for peace ... because we poor countries suffer particularly the consequences of war,? Jimenez said. Jimenez met with Chilean President Ricardo Lagos who has said in recent days Chile was working desperately for a consensus agreement that would bridge Washington?s stance for an imminent attack, and France?s view that inspections should be given more time. In another development, nearly 1,000 US war veterans signed a letter sent to Bush on Wednesday, questioning the wisdom of another war in Iraq and requesting a meeting to express their concerns. ?We feel duty-bound to share with you our serious concerns regarding issues of national security, the appropriate use of our military strength, and the health and welfare of our active-duty soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines,? said the letter from the newly formed group Veterans for Common Sense in Washington. ?We understand the risks that come with war and that there are times when such risks are necessary. However, we strongly question the need for a war at this time,? it said. arabnews.com