March 6, 2003	Thursday	Muharram 2, 1424

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PARIS, March 5: Russia, Germany and France said that they remain definitely opposed to a war with Iraq, and that their “common objective remains the effective and complete disarmament of Iraq, in conformity with UN Resolution 1441,” in a tripartite declaration made here on Wednesday.

Two of the three countries — France and Russia — who are permanent members of the UN Security Council, also make it clear that “if the necessity presents itself,” they will “not allow to pass” a resolution that would authorize a war with Iraq.

With regard to the inspections, the three countries said “we take note that the inspections have been giving results that are more and more encouraging,” with regard to a list of objectives, among them destruction of the Al-Samoud 2 missiles “which have begun and (are in) progress,” as well as Iraq’s chemical and biological weapons, “on which the Iraqis have been supplying information,” lastly as concerns Iraqi scientists, “with whom interviewing continues.”

According to the declaration, “Russia, Germany and France bring their determined support to Messrs Blix and El-Baradei, and consider that the convening of the (Security) Council on March 7 marks an important step in the process that’s been put into place.”

The declaration also stated that the three countries “firmly invite the Iraqi authorities to cooperate more actively with the inspectors with a view to a complete disarmament of their country.”

The declaration also noted that “these inspections cannot go on indefinitely, we consequently desire that the inspections henceforth continue at an accelerated pace.

This means, says the declaration, that “we want for the inspectors to specify and create a hierarchy among the questions not yet answered, on a programme-by-programme basis, and that they establish a detailed series of deadlines.”