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Last chance, E.U. tells Baghdad

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS FEB. 18. At a special meeting of the 15 European Union heads of government, the E.U. leaders made a bold attempt to patch up their differences over Iraq.

Late last night, the E.U. delivered a surprisingly tough warning to the Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein's regime in Baghdad to either seize the `last chance' to disarm or face war.

The French President, Jacques Chirac, also insisted that France would veto a second United Nations resolution, to explicitly authorise an Anglo-American initiated U.N. sponsored military action against Iraq. Mr. Chirac said : " There is no need for a second resolution today, which France would have no choice but to oppose.''

At the E. U. summit, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair's popularity has plummeted as he toed the U.S. line on Iraq, which antagonised the European Union's largest and most influential member-states, France and Germany. The European hawks led by Britain include Spain, Italy, Portugal and the Netherlands. The doves, besides France and Germany, are Belgium, Luxembourg, Greece and Austria. At the middle are Ireland, Sweden and Finland .

The stark reality, even at the end of the "compromising and cosmetic" summit is that the divide remains as wide as ever. But amid a quest to display European unity and let the Euro-American relations remain unscathed, the compromise formula is based on reaching an accord . Hence, the European Union warning to Mr.Hussein's regime of its `last chance.'

According to informed observers here, Mr. Chirac was instrumental in persuading the German Government to agree to a more aggressive stance towards Iraq. The final E.U. communiqué states: "Baghdad should have no illusions. It must disarm and cooperate immediately and fully. Iraq has a final opportunity to resolve the crisis peacefully." The E.U. leaders statement followed an earlier warning by the U.S. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, that the E.U. should avoid internal rifts. The E. U. leaders agreed that the U.N. weapons inspectors be given more time and resources they needed to complete their job.

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