The European Union has warned Iraq that it must disarm without delay or bear responsibility for "all consequences". In a formal warning delivered to Iraqi diplomatic missions in Brussels, Athens and New York, Greece, which holds the EU Presidency, said that time was running out for Baghdad.
Describing the EU as "deeply concerned" about the Iraqi crisis, the message said that UN Security Council resolution 1441 had given Iraq a last chance to disarm peacefully.
"If it does not take this chance it will carry the responsibility for all the consequences. Iraq must completely disarm itself of weapons of mass destruction. We want to achieve this in a peaceful way. This is only possible if Iraq fully, unconditionally and immediately complies with all relevant resolutions of the Security Council," it said.
The EU told Iraq that it had not done enough to co-operate with UN weapons inspectors and that Baghdad must now take a pro-active approach in helping the inspectors.
"The Iraqi authorities must, as an imperative, provide the inspectors, immediately, with all additional and complete information on questions raised by the international community, including the issues raised by the inspectors themselves in their report to the Security Council on 27 January, and co-operate proactively," the message said.
Greece has struggled to find a common EU position on Iraq but the 15 member-states remain deeply divided on the best approach to take to the crisis. EU divisions have spilt over into NATO, where France and Germany have blocked a move to supply Turkey with equipment to defend itself in the event of a war against Iraq. A meeting of the North Atlantic Council is expected to approve assistance to Turkey today but the delay has irked Washington and put a further strain on transatlantic relations.
Mr Elmar Brok, chairman of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, yesterday expressed support for the calling of an emergency EU summit to discuss Iraq.
"It is urgently necessary that we do something in the next few days to work out a common position," he said.
Last night, the Greek Foreign Minister, Mr George Papandreou, said the clock was ticking for Iraq.
"I think we all feel that there is a countdown," he told a press conference .
"When that arm will tick to zero I don't know exactly," Mr Papandreou said, adding that next week's report by the chief UN weapons inspectors to the UN Security Council would be "crucial."
