””””NEW YORK, Feb. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan
Thursday urged the world leaders to make every possible effort to avert war on
Iraq, saying a political settlement of the Iraq case is in the interest of all
parties concerned.
””””Speaking to Chinese reporters upon his arrival here, he said his second
trip in 10 days to New York for the United Nations Security Council meeting on
Iraq is aimed at promoting such a political settlement of the issue.
””””Tang said that Chinese leaders, who have lately maintained close telephone
contact with leaders of the United States, France and other countries, have all
along stressed that the international community should try to avoid war by every
means.
””””Tang noted that the recent trip to Iraq by Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei,
the two chief UN weapons inspectors, had yielded some positive results as Iraq
have consented to further cooperation and the recent inspections have identified
a number ofquestions. "This has fully testified to the great importance of the
inspection," the Chinese minister said.
””””He called on the Security Council to assume its responsibility and play a
major role, especially in supporting the two agencies led by Blix and ElBaradei
and continuing the inspection so as to clarify the outstanding questions.
””””"For this end, China is ready to provide necessary support in terms of
personnel and technology," he said.
””””Tang also urged Iraq to further its substantive cooperation with the United Nations
and said Iraq's implementation of relevant UN resolutions in a strict,
comprehensive and practical manner constitutes an essential precondition of the
avoidance of war.
””””The minister pledged China's unremitting efforts to seek a solution of the
Iraq issue within the framework of the United Nations.
””””UN weapons inspectors are expected to submit a second report about Iraq's
compliance to the UN Security Council on Friday.
””””Washington has expressed hope that the new report will help the United
States secure a second UN resolution which may authorize the use of force to
disarm Iraq.
””””But countries like France, Russia and Germany have been advocating for more
UN inspectors, saying that there is no reason to go to war at this stage.
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