MEXICO: SPANISH PRIME MINISTER JOSE MARIA AZNAR LOBBIES MEXICO TO SUPPORT A TOUGH NEW U.N. RESOLUTION AGAINST BAGHDAD

Record ID: 190488

  • Title: MEXICO: SPANISH PRIME MINISTER JOSE MARIA AZNAR LOBBIES MEXICO TO SUPPORT A TOUGH NEW U.N. RESOLUTION AGAINST BAGHDAD
  • Date: 20th February 2003
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (FEBRUARY 20, 2003) (REUTERS) (SEE PROD 2289/03 FOR MORE DETAILED SHOTLIST OF SEQ. 1-3) 1. VARIOUS OF ANTI-IRAQ WAR PROTEST OUTSIDE SPANISH EMBASSY 0.25 2. VARIOUS OF SPANISH PRESIDENT JOSE MARIA AZNAR ARRIVING AT AIRPORT 1.05 3. VARIOUS OF AZNAR GREETING MEXICAN PRESIDENT VICENTE FOX 1.39 4. MV: EXTERIOR OF HOTEL AT NIGHT WHERE SPANISH PRIME MINISTER, JOSE MARIA AZNAR IS STAYING 1.44 5. VARIOUS OF ANTI-IRAQ WAR ACTIVISTS OUTSIDE HOTEL (2 SHOTS) 1.52 6. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 1.56 7. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AZNAR SAYING: "First I'd like to say that there is nothing more normal than two countries as friendly as Spain and Mexico, who have permanent dialogue, to discuss a situation or different situations in the fight against terrorism and the Iraq crisis." 2.13 8. SCU: MEDIA 2.15 9. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AZNAR SAYING: "I want to say that I respect and support not only the judicial resolution but also the investigations that have been derived from this judicial resolution. I respect it and I support it as it is logical and I have to say that the fight against terrorism should not distinguish between the different flags of convenience that can be used by a terrorist organization." 2.35 10. WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE 2.39 11. SV: (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) AZNAR SAYING: "The only responsibility is the one that applies to Saddam Hussein. We all want for the resolutions to be complied with, we all want peace. What happens is that peace needs to be built every day, peace does not come alone and peace and security needs to be guaranteed, needs to be made, needs to be built." 2.57 12. VARIOUS OF ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE HOTEL 3.03 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO
  • Country: Mexico
  • Reuters ID: LVA2U7TAO4MWXGFQ630S04Y6S44K
  • Story Text: Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, one of the
    most staunch U.S. allies in the Iraq crisis, has lobbied
    Mexico to support a tough new U.N. resolution against Baghdad.


    But Mexico is miffed at Washington over a failed deal
    on Mexican immigration to the United States and has shown
    few signs of wanting to join the pro-war camp.

    Aznar called for unity in the U.N. Security Council, of
    which both Spain and Mexico are temporary members.

    "I want to say that I respect and support not only the
    judicial resolution but also the investigations that have been
    derived from this judicial resolution. I respect it and I
    support it as it is logical and I have to say that the fight
    against terrorism should not distinguish between the different
    flags of convenience that can be used by a terrorist
    organization," he said after talks with Mexican President
    Vicente Fox on Thursday (February 20).

    A small group of protesters held up anti-war banners
    outside the hotel in downtown Mexico City where Aznar was
    speaking.

    The United States plans to propose a new Security Council
    resolution next week declaring Iraq in "material breach" of
    its obligation to comply with U.N. disarmament demands and
    threatening serious consequences for noncompliance.

    Diplomats say President George W. Bush's administration
    wants to get the minimum nine votes needed in the Security
    Council for adoption and then challenge Russia, China or
    France to use their powers of veto to kill the resolution.

    Hence Aznar's visit to Mexico.

    "The only responsibility is the one that applies to Saddam
    Hussein. We all want for the resolutions to be complied with,
    we all want peace. What happens is that peace needs to be
    built every day, peace does not come alone and peace and
    security needs to be guaranteed, needs to be made, needs to be
    built," said Aznar.

    Fox's government has so far called for U.N. arms inspectors
    in Iraq to be given more time to carry out their mission, as
    France wants and the United States opposes.

    The Mexican president's office released a short statement
    after the Aznar meeting calling on greater effort to disarm
    Iraq by peaceful means.

    Fox, a former Coca-Cola executive once close to Bush, has
    shied away from his friendship with the United States in
    recent months.

    The Mexican leader told El Universal newspaper on Thursday
    he was unconcerned about any reprisals from the United States,
    by far Mexico's biggest trading partner, for his Iraq stance.

    Like Bush, Fox is a conservative with a love of ranching.

    When Bush visited his Mexican counterpart a few months after
    they were both elected in 2000, he described the relationship
    with Mexico as the most important that Washington has.

    Mexico under Fox has dropped a decades-old policy of close
    ties with Cuba for the sake of Washington
    But Mexico has drifted to the edge of the U.S. radar
    screen since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on U.S. cities.



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