Russia's Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov came all the way from Moscow, and his French colleague, Dominique de Villepin, flew in from Paris, but their American counterpart, Colin Powell, did not find time to make the one-hour flight from Washington to attend yesterday's ministerial-level session of the UN Security Council in New York.
The US Secretary of State had more pressing things on his mind - such as a war council called by President Bush in the White House as his ultimatum to Saddam Hussein expired - but the point was made.
The Bush administration is still furious over the role of its partners on the council who blocked international approval of its war against Saddam Hussein.
Five foreign ministers spoke at yesterday's crowded session of the 15-member council called to hear a report by chief UN inspector Dr Hans Blix.
Dr Blix expressed disappointment that he had to pull his team of 134 inspectors out of Iraq because US President George Bush had decided on an invasion.
He said that Iraqi co-operation had been increasing, with extra documents and the destruction of dozens of banned missiles.
However he went on: "I naturally feel sadness that 3½ months of work carried out in Iraq have not brought the assurances needed about the absence of weapons of mass destruction or other proscribed items in Iraq, that no more time is available for our inspections, and that armed action now seems imminent."
The value of the information thus provided must be soberly judged, he said. "Our experts have found so far that in substance only limited new information has been provided that will help to resolve remaining questions."
The bulky report, which pointed out that no UN resolution laid down a date for the completion of his inspectors' work, set out 12 tasks for Iraq that "would seem to have only limited practical relevance in the current situation," said Dr Blix, with characteristic under-statement.
Four of the tasks related to missiles and warheads, one to spray devices and drones; three to chemical weapons, including VX, Sarin and mustard agent; and three to biological agents, such as anthrax, botulinum toxin and smallpox. Another aimed to establish any proscribed activities since 1998, including the creation of underground or mobile weapons facilities.
The meeting came two days after the United States, Britain and Spain withdrew their draft Security Council resolution authorising force, which France and Russia were threatening to veto.
"We are meeting here today only a few hours before the guns are fired," said French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin. "To those who think that the scourge of terrorism will be eradicated through what is done in Iraq, we say that they run the risk of failing in their objective."
Mr de Villepin, who was applauded for his anti-war sentiments, said he believed it was now time for the international community to pull together and address the urgent humanitarian needs of post-war Iraq.
Joined by Mr Ivanov and Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer of Germany, he suggested that the Security Council endorse Dr Blix's work program, despite the action of the US and Briatin, whose foreign minister Jack Straw also failed to attend.
"The situation on the ground will change, and so will the nature of the remaining disarmament tasks," said US Ambassador John Negroponte.
"Considering a work programme at this time is quite simply out of touch with the reality that we confront."
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer led a chorus of criticism of US action.
"We have to state clearly under the current circumstance that the policy of military intervention has not credibility," he said. Iraqi disarmaments were slow in coming, "but can they seriously be regarded as grounds for war?" he asked.
"There is no basis in the UN Charter for a regime change with military means."
Mr Ivanov said no Security Council resolution "authorises the violent overthrow of the leadership of a sovereign state".