Schröder welcomes French proposal

Schröder welcomes French proposal for heads of state and government to be present at UN Security Council vote

Government spokesman Béla Anda announced that Chancellor Gerhard Schröder had had a telephone conversation with French President Jacques Chirac on March 9 in which they discussed the French proposal for the heads of state and government of the countries on the UN Security Council to be present in person at the vote expected for this week.

Schröder said he welcomed the proposal. They also expressed their agreement on the need to give the UN weapons inspectors the time they need.

On Monday, March 10, Schröder called Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss further developments in the Iraq situation. The Russian President reaffirmed his position, based on the joint memorandum issued by Germany, France and Russia, that the work of the weapons inspectors needs to be continued, Anda told journalists in Berlin. He said Putin had indicated that the Russian government was still considering the French proposal.

Anda said whether or not there will be a Security Council vote involving the heads of state and government would depend on the outcome of further diplomatic exchanges, adding that he couldn't make any predictions in this regard.

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