“French President Jacques Chirac, Despite British Lobbying, Remains Opposed to Iraq War.” Vive La France :k:
French President Opposed to Iraq War](http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20030204_1075.html) ABC News 04 Feb 03
LE TOUQUET, France Feb. 4 —
British Prime Minister Tony Blair failed Tuesday to persuade France to join a U.S.-led coalition ready to take quick military action against Iraq. Despite intense pressure by Blair, French President Jacques Chirac said he remained steadfastly opposed to war against Baghdad unless U.N. inspectors were given all the time they needed to search for banned weapons.
Asked how much time the weapons inspectors should have weeks or months Chirac responded: "I can’t put a timeframe on it. It’s up to them to decide."“There is still much to be done in the way of disarmament by peaceful means,” Chirac said. He also refused to say whether France would use its veto as one of five permanent members of the Security Council to block a resolution authorizing military action against Iraq. France has hinted in the past it might be willing to do so.
In an interview on national television late last month, Chirac indicated he favored granting a request by the United Nation’s chief inspectors for several more months to determine whether Saddam Hussein’s government is hiding weapons of mass destruction. France is waiting to see what U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and chief U.N. weapons inspectors Hans Blix and Mohamed ElBaradei will say to the U.N. Security Council in the upcoming days. …