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According to Russian sources in Moscow,
the negotiations on a draft resolution on Iraq are going badly. Do you
have any comment, any reaction? Could you describe the state of talks
among the five about the resolution they have to adopt before the end
of May?
Barring error, the difficulties concern
the establishment of the list rather than a resolution about Iraq. But
at this time, we don't consider this essential. Our priority is the
unconditional, unhindered, immediate return of inspectors to Iraq in
the conditions set by the United Nations. The second meeting on April
18 and 19 between the U.N. secretary-general and Iraq's
representatives on this issue is important, and that has our attention
today.
Q - Mr. Hoon recently
said that Britain should use nuclear weapons against Iraq if it
threatened the U.K. with weapons of mass destruction? Do you think it
useful to make a statement like that when there's an effort to wrap up
a question that's already very difficult?
Q - Does France feel
itself threatened?
Q - Above all by the
use of nuclear weapons?
There are several questions there. With
regard to the usefulness of Mr. Hoon's remarks, it's not for me to
comment. Mr. Hoon is saying what he believes he must say. Moreover,
you're referring to a situation which is still hypothetical for the
time being. So I will have no comment.
Q - Don't you think
that all this might encourage small countries that are still
developing nuclear arms to acquire atomic bombs themselves and
therefore ruin all the efforts so far to eliminate nuclear weapons of
mass destruction?
It is true. Traditionally, we've always
maintained that efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation must go in
hand with efforts to control proliferation. The danger you point out
is real. We've drawn the attention of our partners and allies to this
difficulty many times./.
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