IRELAND: The Government has refused to declare its attitude to the joint declaration by France, Germany and Russia that they will block a second United Nations resolution authorising war against Iraq.
Facing questions in the Dáil, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, emphasised that the Government believes a second resolution is "politically important".
"There is a need for the UN Security Council to debate those issues and come forward with a common position," the Minister told Fine Gael TD Mr Gay Mitchell.
The pressure on the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to declare his position will intensify next week when the US and the UK put their own resolution to a crucial meeting of the UN Security Council.
The date for the US/UK move has not yet been decided, though it could be on Thursday, March 13th, or the following day - when Mr Ahern will be in Washington for a meeting with President Bush. Mr Cowen said he would not "pre-empt, or speculate" about the contents of the reports due on Friday from Dr Hans Blix.
The Government believed that countries should not get involved at this stage in supporting either the US/UK resolution or the competing text on offer from France and Germany, supported by Russia.
Green Party TD Mr John Gormley accused Mr Cowen of refusing to answer questions and called for a fresh Dáil debate on the Iraq crisis and a ban on the US military's use of Shannon.