There is no reason to cut short inspections
-- JCP opposes UNSC resolution that paves way for the use of force

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo on February 25 published the following statement to express opposition to a UNSC resolution that will pave the way for the use of force against Iraq:

Today, the United States, Britain, and Spain jointly submitted to the United Nations Security Council a resolution on Iraq. The draft resolution states that Iraq "has failed to take the final opportunity afforded to it in Resolution 1441" (2002) concerning compliance to the destruction of weapons of mass destruction, thus calling on the United Nations to cut short its weapons inspections in Iraq.

But the head of the U.N. inspectors in his latest report stated that inspections based on Resolution 1441 have been effective and that cooperation by Iraq is improving,although problems remain in Iraq's cooperation. There is no reason to cut short the ongoing weapons inspections.

An end to the ongoing inspections would virtually pave the way for the use of force. It would go against the desire of an overwhelming majority of the world's people and governments for a peaceful resolution to the Iraq question. The JCP firmly opposes the moves toward ending inspections.

The Japanese government has highly commended the present draft resolution as very appropriate. But such a position that actually supports a war must be severely criticized.

France, Germany, and Russia in a joint memorandum submitted on the same day to the UNSC expressed strong opposition to the use of force, stating, "our priority should be to achieve this [full and effective disarmament] peacefully through the inspection regime." China has expressed support for the memorandum. A peaceful resolution to the problem through continued and strengthened inspections is possible, and the international community should pursue this course without fail. (end)