N: USA versuchen UN-Mitglieder einzuschüchtern
Geschrieben von IT Oma am 25. Februar 2003 21:39:31:
Als Antwort auf: N: Saddam wünscht angeblich ein Fernseh-Duell mit Bush geschrieben von XI am 25. Februar 2003 09:33:08:
Erster Absatz:
Höhere amerikanische Beamte wurden ohne viel Aufhebens in den letzten Tagen in die Hauptstädte der wichtigsten Sicherheitsratsmitglieder entsandt. Sie sollen die Führer dieser Länder warnen: entweder ihr stimmt mit uns ab oder "ihr zahlt einen hohen Preis"...
A threat on eve of U.N. vote
02/24/03
Dafna Linzer
Associated PressUnited Nations- Senior U.S. officials have been quietly dispatched in recent days to the capitals of key Security Council countries where they are warning leaders to vote with the United States on Iraq or risk "paying a heavy price."
For some of the countries, such as Angola, Guinea and Cameroon - poor African nations whose concerns drew little attention before they landed seats on the council - there is the possibility that supporting Washington's drive for a new U.N. resolution authorizing war may reap benefits down the line.
"For a long time now, we have been asking for help to rebuild our country after years of war," said Angolan Ambassador Ismael Gaspar Martins. "No one is tying the request to support on Iraq but it is all happening at the same time."Angola's president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, met in Luanda Thursday with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Walter Kansteiner, who was diverted from a trip to South Africa to meet with the leaders of the council's three African nations.
"In Africa, the message is simple: Time is running out and we think they should support us," said one U.S. diplomat on condition of anonymity.
The United States and Britain plan to submit their resolution to the Security Council this week and will ask for a vote by the middle of March.
In the meantime, the State Department has sent some of its top people to the world's capitals to lobby for support even as President Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Prime Minister Tony Blair work the phones. The Bush administration has also recruited the leaders of Australia and Spain to help push for votes.
"The order from the White House was to use 'all diplomatic means necessary,' " another U.S. diplomat said. "And that really means everything."
In the past three weeks, the administration has sent Undersecretary of State Marc Grossman and Kim Holmes, the assistant secretary of state for international organizations, to Mexico City.
Mexican diplomats described the visits as hostile in tone and complained that Washington was demonstrating little concern for the constraints of the Mexican government, whose people are overwhelmingly opposed to a war with Iraq.
"They actually told us: 'Any country that doesn't go along with us will be paying a very heavy price,' " said one Mexican diplomat.
To get its resolution through, the United States must secure nine votes in the 15-member council while preventing France, Russia or China - which are pushing for continued weapons inspections - from using their vetoes. The United States and Britain hold the two other vetoes.
While Washington and London believe they already have the necessary authorization to forcefully disarm Iraq, many key allies - Turkey included - have said a new resolution would help them overcome opposition at home.
But so far, Washington is at least five votes short with support guaranteed only from Britain, Spain and Bulgaria.
Since both Germany and Syria have said they would not support the resolution, and Pakistan is almost certain to abstain, the United States must persuade the African trio as well as Chile and Mexico to vote yes. Otherwise, the resolution will fail.
Diplomats said there was little the Bush administration could use to scare or entice Mexico now since it does not receive U.S. aid and the one thing it had wanted most - legalizing the status of undocumented Mexicans in the United States - was taken off the table more than a year ago.