March 1, 2003	Saturday	Zul Hijjah 27, 1423

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb 28: Pakistan on Friday joined other non- permanent members of the UN Security Council in asking the five permanent members — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — to reach a consensus on tackling Iraqi crisis before asking them to make a crucial decision.

Commenting on the deep divisions in the Security Council witnessed on Thursday, the Ambassador of Pakistan to the United Nations, Munir Akram, said: “We (non-permanent members) should not be used in any power play. Our votes would be meaningless unless the permanent members reconcile their differences.”

On Thursday, Chile launched a sharp attack on the big powers for not trying to reach a compromise and depending on smaller nations to make a crucial decision.

The pressure has been particularly intense on six so-called “swing votes” of wavering council members — Chile, Mexico, Pakistan, Angola, Cameroon and Guinea.

The Council’s Thursday’s meeting, the first since the introduction of a US-British-Spanish resolution that would legitimize an invasion of Iraq, became so divisive that members did not agree whether Blix should address the council on March 6 or March 7.

Here are the positions taken by the UN Security Council members on the Iraqi crisis:

#The United States# maintains Iraq is developing weapons of mass destruction, failing to cooperate with weapons inspectors, and violating its obligations under UN resolutions. Washington says it already has authorization to use force to disarm Iraq but is cosponsoring a resolution that would give military action explicit UN backing.

#Russia# is cosponsoring a proposal to continue UN inspections at least into July and says that there is no evidence Iraq is rearming. Moscow wants a diplomatic solution, but says it could change positions if Iraq doesn’t increase cooperation with inspectors. On Friday Russia’s Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov threatened to veto the US sponsored resolution.

China has said it believes inspections are starting to work and Iraq can be disarmed peacefully. Beijing supports proposal to give inspectors at least four more months to do their jobs and would like a compromise to maintain Security Council’s unity.

#Britain# is cosponsoring the resolution that would give UN approval for military action. Prime Minister Tony Blair needs the resolution because of strong anti-war opposition, but he would almost certainly join a US-led attack without one.

#France#, the main opponent of war now, is cosponsoring the proposal to continue weapons inspections. It says inspections are starting to work and sees no justification for military action or a new resolution. Paris has hinted it could use its veto to block council authorization for military action at this stage.

#Pakistan# wants a peaceful solution, but would abstain if pressured to take a position.

#Angola# wants to hear from weapons inspectors to see whether all possibilities for Iraq’s peaceful disarmament are exhausted or whether inspections should continue.

#Bulgaria# backs a peaceful solution to the conflict in Iraq, but might support a short deadline for Saddam Hussein to comply with outstanding disarmament issues. The country is considered to be in the American camp and could support a US-led military intervention without Security Council’s authorization.

#Cameroon# hopes for a compromise between supporters and opponents of military authorization. It would like the US-backed resolution changed to say that Iraq has not yet taken the final opportunity to disarm peacefully, instead of saying it has failed to use its last chance.

#Chile# wants the five permanent members to agree on how to disarm Iraq. It would prefer a peaceful solution and likes the idea of a short deadline for Iraq to meet key disarmament demands.

#Guinea# supports continued inspections and would like to see council agreement.

#Germany# insists Iraq must be disarmed peacefully, and is cosponsoring a proposal to continue inspections. It has said that it will not participate in any military intervention, even if the Security Council authorizes such action.

#Mexico# calls for the urgent disarmament of Iraq and could support the US-backed resolution. But it also joins with Chile in wanting the permanent members to compromise and exploring a short deadline for Iraqi compliance.

#Syria# insists Iraq is cooperating with its obligations under UN resolutions, opposes any new resolution and has said that sanctions against Baghdad should be lifted.

#Spain# supports the Bush administration’s stance on Iraq and is cosponsoring the resolution to authorize military action.