Straw urges sensibility in solution for Iraq crisis<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Jakarta\/Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Active diplomacy backed by credible military force is the only
\nway to create a peaceful solution to the Iraq crisis, British
\nForeign Secretary Jack Straw said in Jakarta Friday.<\/p>\n
Speaking after talks with Vice President Hamzah Haz on the
\nlast day of his visit here, Straw said Britain wished \"to see the
\ncrisis created by Iraq resolved peacefully\".<\/p>\n
\"But we know that it can only be resolved peacefully by
\ndecisions made principally by Saddam Hussein and that he is only
\nlikely to make sensible decisions if our active diplomacy is
\nbacked a credible threat of force,\" the foreign secretary said,
\nshortly before leaving Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Straw was commenting on reports that Britain has urged the
\nUnited States to delay war against Iraq for several months,
\npossibly until autumn, to give UN inspectors more time to provide
\nevidence of arms violations by Baghdad.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has said
\nit supports the presence of UN weapons inspectors in Iraq but
\nconsiders any unilateral action against Baghdad to be
\nunacceptable.<\/p>\n
Straw flew to Kuala Lumpur later on Friday -- the last stop on
\na tour designed to sound out Southeast Asian leaders on Iraq,
\nterrorism and North Korea's nuclear program.<\/p>\n
Malaysia is due to take over the chairmanship of the 57-member
\nOrganization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) this year.<\/p>\n
Malaysia Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said after meeting
\nStraw that Malaysia was \"very happy with the reassurance that
\nwhile they are making preparations, war is not inevitable.\"<\/p>\n
\"They just want to see some compliance with the (UN)
\nresolutions (that Iraq must disarm).<\/p>\n
\"We see Britain is taking a more balanced view while the
\nAmericans take a very strong view, hawkish about the issue.<\/p>\n
\"Britain believes in a two-step process -- that if there is a
\nwar there must be another resolution (first) in the UN Security
\nCouncil,\" Syed Hamid said.<\/p>\n
Asked whether Malaysia would support a war sanctioned by the
\nSecurity Council, Syed Hamid refused to make a commitment either
\nway.<\/p>\n
\"We will see when it comes,\" he said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/straw-urges-sensibility-in-solution-for-iraq-crisis-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }